savramesh 37 Report post Posted August 19, 2008 The tussle between Anil Ambani group firm RCom and other GSM operators over interconnectivity is likely to get tougher in the coming days with COAI planning to move sectoral tribunal TDSAT on 21st Aug on the issue. On 14th August, regulator Trai had directed asked GSm players Idea Cellular, BPL, Voadafone Essar and Bharti Airtel to interconnect with RCom by 21st August. It has also asked state-run BSNL to link up with RCom but the PSU is not a part of the COAI petition. A COAI official said the association is readying documents and would file the petition with TDSAT by 21st August. COAI Director General T V Ramachandran had earlier said "We are certainly examining legal option and will take a call on this today". TRAI, in the second ultimatum to GSM operators, including Bharti, Vodafone, Idea Cellular and BSNL, has given 21st August as the deadline to give interconnections to the RCom GSM network. Trai has cited it as a licencing condition for serice providers to provide interconnection to other players, implying if a mobile operator does not give interconnection to another based on mutual commercial agreement, it is a violation of license condition attracting penalty. GSM operators on their part said, Reliance GSM has a new network for which commercial term has to be re-negotiated. The existing arrangement between RCom and GSM operators are for the CDMA network. On 4th August, TRAI had directed GSM players to offer interconnection to RCom by opening up their network to the mobile switching code. GSM operators denied interconnectivity to Anil Ambani's RCom on the ground that the interconnect agreement with Reliance was limited to providing links for its CDMA network. They have asked RCom to renegotiate fresh commercial terms for interconnection to its GSM network. Meanwhile, the TRAI rejected any contention for renegotiation. "This is not tenable as the DOT's instruction dated the 24th March, 2008 for opening of allotted codes and TRAI's direction of 6th January, 2005 are not subordinate to or conditioned by negotiations between the service providers", the regulator said. TRAI also turned down the GSM players' argument that new points of interconnection would have to be created once RCOM's network is established. Citing instructions from the Licensor (DOT), it said there is no reason for any service provider to contravene the instruction issued by the licensor. The resolution of the interconnection issue is crucial to RCOM, as it has recently launched its GSM services in Delhi. In reaction to the directives from TRAI, GSM operators' association COAI said the directive was contradictory and asked for a review of interconnect agreements for the introduction of GSM services by RCom. Reliance Communication was not willing to enter into negotiations for a review of the interconnect agreements with GSM operators, it alleged. "Our member operators have had interactions with RCom on this issue and have indicated their willingness to re- negotiate the commercial arrangements to allow for interconnection with the RCom's GSM network and the opening up of the "90" MSC codes. However, it is learnt that RCom is completely unwilling to re-negotiate the terms of interconnection" it said. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Honest 836 Report post Posted August 19, 2008 ^^^ My dear friend, we are already discussing about the same in the below mentioned thread. Please carry on discussions their only. http://www.rimweb.in/forums/index.php?show...mp;#entry119621 Regards. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
