Etisalat India mobile phone JV to shut down operations

NEW DELHI, Feb 22 (Reuters) - Etisalat's

Indian joint venture will shut down its mobile phone network

after the country's top court ordered all telecoms licences

issued under a scandal-tainted 2008 sale be revoked in four

months, including those held by the UAE carrier's joint venture.

"As unanimously resolved by the board this evening, Etisalat

DB will be taking steps to reduce operating costs, including the

suspension of its network and services..." Etisalat said in a

statement.

Etisalat said it would decide on any future participation in

the Indian market when there is clarity on a spectrum auction

process and regulatory policy.

(Reporting by Devidutta Tripathy; Editing by Aradhana

Aravindan)