Airtel is reported to have shelved its plans to acquire Loop Mobile following its failure to secure regulatory approval for the deal, leaving uncertainty for Loop’s subscribers because its licence expires at the end of this month.

According to India’s Economic Times, after applying for approval from the country’s Department of Telecommunications in March, no green-light was forthcoming. As a result, it has now opted not to continue with the deal.

Reports last month said that Loop was looking to make some concessions, such as only transferring its subscribers to Airtel and not its infrastructure, in order to smooth the process.

There had previously been concern that the deal would see Loop customers being ported involuntarily from Loop to Airtel. In addition, number porting in India sees a fee levied, of which a portion goes to the government.

With Loop, which only operates in the city of Mumbai, having to shut down at the end of this month, its approximately three million customers will now have to find an alternative sooner, rather than later.