S Tel

S Tel Private Limited

Company type	Private
Industry	Telecommunications
Founded	2008
Defunct	2012
Headquarters	Gurgaon , India
Owner	Chinnakannan Sivasankaran (51%), Bahrain Telecommunications (49%)

S Tel Private Limited operated as a GSM cellular service provider in India, with ownership shared between Chinnakannan Sivasankaran holding 51% and Bahrain Telecommunications possessing 49%. On 2 February 2012, the Supreme Court of India revoked all 122 spectrum licences allocated during the tenure of former communications minister A Raja, which included six licences held by S Tel. Subsequently, Batelco divested its interest in S Tel, finalizing the deal by the end of 2012.

Supreme Court revokes licence

The Supreme Court of India annulled all 122 spectrum licences granted under A Raja's administration on 2 February 2012, among them six licences owned by S Tel. Additionally, the court levied a penalty of 50 lakh on the company.

Stake sale by Batelco

Following the Supreme Court's decision, on 8 February 2012, Batelco transferred its 42.7% equity in S Tel to India's Sky City Foundation Ltd for 65.8 million Bahraini dinar (equivalent to US$174.5 million). Shaikh Mohamed bin Isa Al Khalifa, Batelco's Group Chief Executive, noted that BMIC Limited—a fully owned Batelco subsidiary—had agreed toward the end of 2011 to sell its stake to Sky City Foundation. The completion of this transaction was anticipated by October 2012.

Operational status

After the cancellation of its six UAS licences on 17 February 2012, S Tel discontinued its operations within India. On 29 February 2012, CEO Sivasankaran appealed to former Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, proposing an investment of Rs. 1700 Crore in exchange for relinquishing the licences.