The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) is believed to have asked its legal wing to examine the 3G roaming agreements inked between Bharti Airtel, Vodafone Essar and Idea Cellular.
It has also asked the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) for its opinion on the matter. TRAI has already served notices to these companies and is currently scrutinising the 3G alliances between them.
Prior to this, operators had entered into an alliance that enables them to offer high-end data services on a pan-India basis (except Orissa).
Bharti Airtel, Vodafone Essar and Idea Cellular had won 3G airwaves in 13, 9 and 11 circles respectively and their roaming pacts ensure that their customers can access high-speed data services even in regions where they do not hold 3G spectrum.
This issue came under DoT?s scanner after Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL), Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), Aircel and Tata Teleservices Limited (TTSL) had sought clarity before entering into similar roaming agreements. MTNL planned to enter into commercial deals with TTSL and Aircel for its 3G spectrum in
