Government has said that the telecom operators whose licences were cancelled by the Supreme Court have been asked by TRAI to ensure the quality of service as per licence conditions till they are in operations.

"The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India has issued instructions to all licencees, whose licences have been ordered to be quashed by the Supreme Court, to ensure quality of service during the period of four months, as per licence conditions," Minister of state for communication and IT Milind Deora said in a written reply to Rajya Sabha.

The apex court in its February 2 judgment cancelled all the 122 spectrum licneces allotted in 2008 during the tenure of the former telecom minister A Raja directing the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) to complete the process of fresh auctions within four months.   Following the order Trai on March 7 issued a consultation paper on ''Auction of Spectrum'.

"As per the directions of SC, the government on February 3, 2012, has sought the recommendations of Trai and subsequently Trai on March 7, 2012, has issued a consultation paper on 'Auction of Spectrum'," Deora said.

The government also moved the Supreme Court (SC) seeking clarification on the order and has given a time-line of 400 days to complete the auction process.

"The government has filed an IA (Interlocutory Application )...placing on record the proposed auction schedule which may take at least 400 days and indicating that there will be a time gap between cessation of licences as per SC order and completion of auction," Deora said.