Nordic operator Telenor has appointed Citi Global Markets India to help it select a new Indian partner following its decision to split from Uninor joint venture partner Unitech, reports Mint. A source told the Indian business paper that Citi was given the mandate several weeks ago.

Telenor holds a 67 percent stake in Uninor but announced its intention to split from Indian property developer Unitech and look for a new partner shortly after India’s Supreme Court cancelled Uninor’s 22 2G licences in February.

Last week it was reported that Telenor was in talks with Tata Teleservices regarding a potential partnership. Sources said the companies are waiting until the auction plans for the reallocation of 2G licences are published before making a final decision.

The possible options are believed to include merging the assets of Uninor with Tata Teleservices, or for Telenor to partially or fully acquire NTT Docomo’s stake in Tata. The latter would depend on the Japanese company’s decision on an imminent call option.

Telenor's EVP and head of region for Asia Sigve Brekke said in May that the company needed to establish a company with a new partner prior to the 2G auction.

The decision to cancel a total of 122 2G licences was taken by the Supreme Court after it deemed that they were allocated unfairly in 2008. A new auction for the 2G spectrum is currently planned for later in the year.

The Supreme Court ruling caused several foreign operators who had invested in India to reassess their presence in the market, with several deciding to exit the market. Telenor is also suing Unitech, alleging that it was misled about the 2G licences the Indian company held when the joint venture was established.