Imposing a penalty has become the norm rather than an exception: COAI

A statement issued by the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) on the recent meeting between Kapil Sibal, Minister of Telecommunications and IT and telecom operators said, ?The industry raised the issue of onerous penalties being levied by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) on the operators. Many of the penalties are for minor technicalities and compliances with regulations and directives that are unclear and on which the industry itself has sought clarification from DoT.? 

?A maximum penalty of Rs 500 million is levied without any reasoning or personal hearing. In fact levying the penalty has become more of a norm than an exception.?

COAI said that Sibal was receptive to the industry?s concerns.  According to the industry body, Sibal indicated that he had already directed DoT to evolve guidelines to reduce the element of discretion and make this process as scientific as possible.

That apart, COAI said that the operators also raised the issue of the intra-circle roaming arrangements for 3G spectrum. ?The 3G intra-circle roaming agreements are not an infringement of the licence conditions but are well within the ambit of the licence, as clarified by DoT at various forums,? COAI?s statement added.