In continuation of the 3G roaming agreements issue, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has approached the Additional Solicitor General of India for an opinion in this context, say news reports.
Prior to this, the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) delivered a split verdict on the petition brought out by telecom operators on this issue.
The petition was in response to a government order requesting them to stop offering 3G services beyond their licensed circles through mutual roaming pacts.
In 2011, DoT had said that such roaming agreements were illegal as they were tantamount to the operators functioning as mobile virtual network operators, which isn’t permitted as per current licence conditions.
In its verdict, TDSAT has said that the operators and the DoT ought to move the case to the High Court.
Also, TDSAT has permitted the operators to continue providing roaming services until a final decision is taken by the High Court on the subject.
Now, DoT has asked the Additional Solicitor General of India on his views on whether appropriate steps can be taken against these players and if fresh show-cause notices can be issued in this context.
Telecom operators including Bharti Airtel, Vodafone India and Idea Cellular are currently providing 3G services in most parts of the country by inking roaming pacts with each other. The three telecom operators claim that their roaming pacts are in compliance with the stipulations of current telecom licenses.
