COAI dials Tribunal to fight DoT move

CMN Bureau

NEW DELHI, INDIA: Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) today moved the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) challenging the Ministry of Communications and IT allowing telecom operators to offer dual technology services in the country.

This development comes in the wake of Department of Telecom (DoT) offering letter of intent to three service providers: Reliance Communications, HFCL and Shyam Telecom to offer GSM services.

Under the new DoT guidelines, existing licensees have been permitted to use spectrum and offer services in both CDMA and GSM technologies.

The GSM operators have opposed DoT’s decision to increase the subscriber limit for allocation of existing spectrum. The GSM operators have termed it as “unfair and illegal.”

Encouraged by the government’s decision on permitting CDMA operators to offer GSM services, Tata Teleservices has submitted its application for GSM spectrum.

Reliance Communications has paid Rs 1,651 crore to DoT towards fee for the spectrum.

However, Reliance Communication is also planning to launch CDMA services in the Assam and Northeast circle. The company has filed an application with the department for release of spectrum for these two circles.

The operator is currently offering GSM services in six circles including these two circles.