BSNL approaches TDSAT against TRAI regulation

NEW DELHI, INDIA: State-owned telecom player BSNL approached the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) on Monday, challenging the interconnect usage charges regulation of TRAI.

BSNL appealed the tribunal to stay the March 9 regulation of TRAI, which reduced the mobile termination charges to 20 paise from the existing 30 paise.

Termination charges are paid by one operator to another on whose network the call ends.

Since BSNL is an all India telecom player, most of the calls end on its fixed line network and hence a lower termination charge would hurt its overall revenue, it feels. The hearing in the petition would be held today, according to reports.

"Yes we have challenged the TRAI regulation of March 9 before the TDSAT," PTI quoted a senior BSNL official as saying.

According to BSNL, the mobile termination charges should be at least three-four times for the fixed lines.