In a statement on the carriage charges issue between Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) and private operators, the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) has said, ?Without concern for the needs of the customer, BSNL today went ahead and disconnected the point of interconnection between private cellular mobile operators and BSNL fixed line/ mobile subscribers in Punjab. BSNL?s action has heavily affected fixed line and mobile subscribers in the state (Punjab) who will not be able to connect to their families and friends in each other?s networks even in critical situations.?

?Meetings held with BSNL?s chairman and managing director to resolve the issue have been futile and BSNL has refused to withdraw their notice to disconnect the private operators, even after private operators pointed out that the amount claimed by BSNL i.e. Rs. 1.65 billion at a pan-India level, is erroneous, inflated and not in consonance with TRAI’s Interconnect Usage Charges (Regulation 2009).  Such amounts are far lower than amounts owed to the private operators by BSNL and are even backed by bank guarantees from the private operators. Thus no credible reason can be seen for such action by BSNL.?

?Private operators believe that BSNL has shown callous disregard for the needs of consumers and has no reason to have initiated the disconnection action now, especially when the whole matter of interconnection charges was being reviewed by TRAI pursuant to an order from the Telecom Disputes Settlement & Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT).?