Pvt players unite against BSNL's discriminatory approach

Private operators raised concerns over BSNL's non-compliance with regard to implementation of Interconnect User Charge.

Private telecom operators on Friday raised serious concerns over state-owned BSNL's non-compliance with regard to implementation of Interconnect User Charge saying they (BSNL) were completely violating telecom regulator TRAI's regulations.

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"BSNL follows one type of pulse rate for their billing towards us while different pulse rate for themselves. This has resulted in heavy losses to the private telecom operators," COAI director general T V Ramachandran told PTI.

He said the cumulative losses would be in the range of Rs 150 to Rs 200 crore since May last year and this is just one item where BSNL's discriminatory approach has caused so much of losses to the industry.

"This is a discriminatory practice of the incumbent operator and completely detrimental to the development of telecom services in the country," he added.

TRAI had earlier said that revised IUC would be implemented with effect from February 1 and till now both -- private telecom operators and BSNL -- have been claiming that they were fully prepared for the new regime wherein inter-operator settlement of IUC has to be made on reciprocal basis.

Sources also said that both the organisations were contemplating approaching the Telecom Dispute Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) over the issue but no decision has yet been taken.