3G roaming: Mittal, Birla seek PM's intervention

NEW DELHI, INDIA: With the department of telecom's enforcement and resource monitoring cell nullifying the roaming agreements between various operators for offering third generation (3G) mobile services, telecom giants Bharti Airtel and Idea Cellular have sought intervention of the Prime Minister for resolving the controversial issue.  

In separate letters, Sunil Bharti Mittal and K M Birla have written to PM Manmohan Singh arguing that roaming policy should be applicable to the licences and specific spectrum bands should be excluded.

Earlier, Vodafone, Tata Teleservices, Idea Cellular and Bharti Airtel asked the DoT to refund the licence fee, if intra-circle roaming pacts between operators are considered illegal.

Earlier this year, Bharti Airtel, Vodafone Essar and Idea Cellular entered into 3G roaming alliances that enabled them to offer high-end data services on a pan-India basis (except Orissa). Bharti, Vodafone and Idea had won 3G airwaves in 13, 9 and 11 circles, respectively, and their roaming pacts ensured that customers of these companies can access high-speed data services even in the regions where they don't hold 3G airwaves.

While mobile licences allow operators to enter into roaming agreements, in the case of 3G, some service operators have gone a step ahead and are selling connections even in areas where they do not have spectrum.