23, నవంబర్ 2011, బుధవారం

New Policy to Sanction Old sins


Private Operators Airtel, Vodafone, and Idea have offered 3G services to customers in the circles where they do not have 3G spectrum, by sharing the 3G spectrum of the other operator having it in those circles. They entered into intracircle roaming agreements for this. This means these operators are able to provide 3G services in all circles even though they have 3G spectrum in some circles. This is affecting BSNL since it paid Rs 10500 crores for acquiring 3G spectrum in all the circles except Delhi and Mumbai. On the other hand these 3 private operators have taken 3G spectrum only for some circles by paying a less amount, but they are providing services in all the circles! This is illegal. The TRAI, DoT and Law Ministry concluded that it is illegal and DoT is going to issue notices to these operators for terminating such intra circle roaming agreements. The Private Operators Airtel, Vodafone and Idea are fighting against this. They are supporting their illegal agreement by calling it as perfectly alright. On 22/11/2011 these 3 operators have written a joint letter to the Prime Minister stating that their 3G intra circle roaming agreements should not be terminated and in case if it is decided to do so, the amount paid for them for acquiring 3G spectrum should be returned back along with interest. They also demand to compensate them for the capital investment made by them on the 3G services. It seems Government is coming under their pressure and going to protect their illegal agreements by changing the rules in the National Telecom Policy 2011 to be finalized and released in the early 2012. Reports are coming in the newspapers that the National Telecom Policy 2011 will introduce All India License instead of the present circle based license and the existing operators will be allowed to migrate to it. The newspapers are saying that such all india license will make these intracircle roaming agreements alright since there will be no circle based license. But even then, it is a fact that BSNL acquired 3G spectrum in all circles whereas these 3 operators acquired it in some circles only. Then how these operators can be allowed to provide 3G services in areas where they did not buy it? The 3G intra circle roaming  agreements of these 3 operators should be cancelled immediately without any compensation to them and their licenses also should be cancelled since they violated license conditions.

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