After an 18-month delay, the department of telecommunications (DoT) has issued an internet service provider (ISP) licence to US-based chipmaker Qualco-mm, which will pave the way for the company to go ahead with the launch of broadband wireless access (BWA) services.Qualcomm had won BWA spectrum in four circles — Delhi, Mumbai, Haryana and Kerala — for about Rs 4,900 crore in the auction held by the government in June 2010.
A senior DoT official confirmed the licence had been issued to Qualcomm and spectrum would be allotted as soon as the company applied. The decision came after the Telecom Disputes Settlement & Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) order, earlier this month, had directed DoT to award the licence and allot spectrum within a week of Qualcomm paying the dues of its Indian partner, Tulip Telecom.
