3G roaming: Sibal to meet telcos on Jan 13

NEW DELHI, INDIA: IT and communications minister Kapil Sibal is likely to meet telecom service operators to discuss 3G roaming pacts on January 13, said sources in the ministry. As the DoT has challenged the TDSAT jurisdiction, the private telcos are apparently under pressure.

Bharti Airtel, Vodafone and Idea Cellular had entered into a roaming agreement to offer 3G services in the circles where they could not win 3G spectrum last year. The DoT had said the agreement was illegal.

As the private operators feel the DoT heat, they are now looking at the telecom ministry for intervention.

Meanwhile, state-owned BSNL has also opened a front against these operators and accused them of holding subscribers illegally. Citing the National Telecom Policy 1999, BSNL told TDSAT that their agreements were against the policy.

The state-owned company also urged the Tribunal that private operators were not legitimate to offer 3G roaming services, hence causing loss of revenue to the government exchequer.

“Private telcos are likely to meet telecom minister Kapil Sibal for readressal of 3G roaming issues besides other matters,” informed a senior official of MoCIT.