The tussle between private mobile operators and state-owned Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) over interconnectivity charges is not likely to be settled soon.
Subscribers of private cell phone operators have been cut off from BSNL network in Punjab after the PSU telecom firm discontinued services to them last Wednesday. The warring parties are not showing any signs of relenting.
Cellular Operators’ Association of India (COAI) director general Ranjan Mathews told DNA private operators may choose to “leave their network disconnected from BSNL lines” if PSU did not agree to negotiate the interconnectivity charges, which were hiked last year.
Interconnectivity fee is paid by one operator to another for using its network in a circle and is calculated on per-call-per-minute basis.
“There are three options in front of us - either we agree to pay BSNL as per the rates calculated by them or negotiate it or just leave it (network) disconnected. BSNL is charging high-end of the rate which is not agreeable by most operators. If they (BSNL) don’t agree to negotiate it (rates) then the private operators may go for the third option (leave the network disconnected),” he said.
BSNL officials were not available for comment.
Meanwhile, Mathews said, Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) came out with an interim order on late Friday evening directing BSNL to restore services to private operators.
The telecom tribunal has ordered Reliance, Tata and MTS to pay their dues as per the rates agreed with BSNL till it came out with the final order. Mathews said it will take 2-3days restore the service.
