TDSAT provides relief to telecom operators till Jan 3
December 24th, 2011 - 6:47 pm ICT by IANSNew Delhi, Dec 24 (IANS) The Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) Saturday asked the Department of Telecom (DoT) not to take any “coercive” action in enforcing a ban on 3G roaming against three service providers till Jan 3 when it would hear the case again.
TDSAT also asked the operators to submit the roaming pact they had signed among themselves for its examination.
Bharti Airtel, Idea Cellular and Vodafone had moved the telecom tribunal Friday evening challenging the DoT order, saying it would harm customers and the cause of investment in the sector.
The DoT had asked the mobile phone companies to terminate their 3G roaming agreement by 3 pm Saturday. According to the DoT, the roaming agreement among telecom companies for 3G services is illegal and would lead to a significant loss of revenue to the government.
Earlier, telecom regulator TRAI and the enforcement cell of the telecom department had termed the agreement illegal.
The service providers had entered into a roaming agreement to offer 3G services such as video calling, mobile TV and multi-media gaming in telecom circles where they could not win 3G spectrum auctioned last year.
The operators had cited the DoT move as arbitrary, unreasonable and retrograde.
“We are shocked at the arbitrary decision taken by the DoT to issue instructions to stop intra circle roaming (ICR) for 3G services among the telecom operators,” Bharti Airtel had said in a statement Friday evening.
Vodafone had called the DoT decision unreasonable. “The 3G roaming agreements that Vodafone has entered into with other operators are in complete compliance with all government rules and regulations and this issue was specifically clarified by DoT before the 3G auction was held.”
“Based on this clarification, we went into the auction in good faith. Now, to completely reverse the stand, is totally irrational. It is going to affect millions of our customers adversely and we think it is a retrograde step by DoT.”
Idea Cellular had expressed dismay at the government’s decision which it said would adversely impact investor sentiment.
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- Airtel, Idea, Vodafone asked to stop 3G roaming service (Lead) - Dec 23, 2011
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- 3G roaming: High court dismisses DoT plea (Lead) - Feb 23, 2012
- 3G dispute: Court refuses to stay TDSAT order - Feb 23, 2012
- TDSAT adjourns hearing on 3G roaming till Jan 17 - Jan 09, 2012
- TDSAT's split verdict on 3G roaming pacts; Telcos to move Supreme Court (Lead) - Jul 03, 2012
- Return 3G license fees if roaming pact illegal: Telecom biggies - Nov 22, 2011
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- Sibal meets telecom operators on 3G issue - Nov 30, 2011
- Final decision on 3G roaming after meeting operators: DoT - Nov 28, 2011
- Tribunal asks Vodafone to pay Rs.25 crore penalty - Nov 18, 2011
- Government may allow foreign players to bid alone in 2G auction - Sep 06, 2012
- 3G roaming deals issue to affect investor confidence: Airtel - Nov 18, 2011
- Court stays telecom tribunal's order on hiked 2G rates - Oct 22, 2010
Tags: 3g auction, 3g services, appellate tribunal, arbitrary decision, coercive action, dec 24, dot decision, dot move, friday evening, good faith, government rules, mobile phone companies, mobile tv, multi media, telecom circles, telecom companies, telecom department, telecom operators, telecom regulator, trai