DoT can terminate licences of operators for violating roaming norms
According to the Additional Solicitor General of India, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) is within its rights to initiate action against telecom operators for violating roaming pacts, say news reports.
The Ministry of Law has said that DoT can terminate the 3G licences of Bharti Airtel, Idea Cellular and Vodafone India and claim the amount earned by these companies for providing these services as a fine.
This was in response to DoT seeking the Ministry of Law’s opinion on whether it could impose a fine and cancel the licences of operators found to be violating existing roaming pact agreements.
Earlier, DoT had said that these companies violated licence conditions by entering into bilateral roaming agreements in circles where they did not have 3G permits. DoT directed these operators to terminate such alliances. However, operators approached Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) challenging DoT’s directive.
Thereafter, TDSAT delivered a split verdict on operator’s petition. Following this, DoT approached the Ministry of Law for its opinion on the issue.
