Telecom operator Uninor has closed down its mobile network operations in Mumbai from midnight on night resulting in an estimated 1.8 million phones falling silent in the metropolis. The Supreme Court on Saturday ordered all Uninor operators to close down services immediately as they did not win spectrum in the previous auctions.

The apex court had ordered immediate closure of the company after it cancelled 22 licences of Uninor in Februray 2012. Temporary licences, too, have not been permitted by the Supreme Court. The majority stakeholder of the company, Telenor participated in November 2012 auction through new entity Telewings Communications and won spectrum in six circles. Telenor is now in process of transferring business of Uninor in Maharashtra and Goa, Gujarat, UP East, UP West, Bihar and Jharkhand and Andhra Pradesh service areas, to Telewings Communications. Uninor said its operations in these service areas will continue as fresh spectrum for 20 years has already been secured.

Meanwhile, Uninor in a press statement in Mumbai said that it would extend all possible assistance to its employees in Mumbai for finding new employment opportunities.