The Supreme Court on Friday held that telecom companies which were unsuccessful in availing fresh 2G spectrum, and those which did not participate in the auction process, will cease to operate "forthwith".

However, telecom companies which were successful in the fresh auction held on November 12 and 14 last year will be asked to start their services in the respective circles immediately, the court ruled.

"Telecom companies which have been unsuccessful in the bidding and those after the cancellation of the licences did not participate in the fresh auction are directed to cease from continuing from operation forthwith and the successful bidders will immediately start in their respective circles," the court said.

A bench comprising justices GS Singhvi and KS Radhakrishnan directed that telecom companies that were allowed to continue operation after scrapping of their licences by February 2, 2012 judgement will have to pay the reserved price fixed for the licences in the first round of the auction held in November 2012.

The apex court by its interim orders had extended the deadline for them to continue with the operation.

The bench clarified that the apex court's February 2, 2012 judgement will not be applicable on telecom companies holding the spectrum with 900 MHz band. "The February 2, 2012 order will have no bearing on litigation relating to 900 MHz band," the bench said, adding that it (900 MHz band spectrum) was not the subject matter before it.

The bench also directed to immediately put on fresh auction entire 2G spectrum for the licences cancelled by it.