The Hindu : TRAI directive to Reliance Infocomm

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Feb 12, 2003

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TRAI directive to Reliance Infocomm

Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI FEB. 11. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has asked Reliance Infocomm to explain its advertisement offering roaming on its limited mobility phones when this facility has been barred for this type of service.

Another WLL company, Tata Teleservices, has assured the TRAI that it would not offer services outside the local calling area (short distance charging area -SDCA).

The TRAI counsel made this revelation to the Telecom Dispute Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) which is hearing a complaint filed by cell companies against WLL (M) firms. The case will come up for hearing on February 17. No directions were passed by the TDSAT against Reliance Infocomm and Tata Teleservices.

Cell companies have accused WLL (M) firms of offering services outside the SDCA and offering roaming in an attempt to attract customers. Both are against the rules and neither the licensor nor the regulator had taken steps to confirm either violation.

Keen to remove the impression of not being unbiased enough, the TRAI counsel admitted that offering WLL services outside SDCA is prohibited and "we have asked them (Reliance Infocomm) to explain their position.''

On the breaching of SDCA service area, the counsel said the Tata Infoservices had given a "categorical assurance'' that their WLL services would not be available outside SDCA.

On Monday, the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) had regretted that "these violations had been brought to the notice of the licensor and the regulator, but no effective action had been taken by these authorities (the Government and the TRAI)." It was further averred that the TRAI, as an independent regulatory body with technical expertise available, should have physically verified the location of these towers or these violations.

Further, it had noted that "the above approach may be contrasted with the speedy and expeditious manner in which the TRAI had acted in the matter of transit connectivity for WLL (M) where all that was being sought by the industry was reciprocal commercial arrangements.''

Appearing before the TDSAT, counsel for the TRAI clarified that action had been initiated on both the complaints. But cell companies also want the TDSAT to take penal action against those WLL (M) operators violated the licence terms, the Government decision and the judicial orders passed by the Tribunal.

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