Telecom companies have provided sharply differing inputs to the Telecom regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) with regard to its attempts to revise network interconnect charges.
The interconnect usage charges (IUC) form a key part of tariffs plans offered to consumers. The broad message given out by the comments offered to the consultation paper is that operators who are still rolling out their infrastructure are opposing a capex-based IUC regime.
On the other hand, incumbent players maintain that it will be the appropriate way forward. In their response to TRAI, they said capital expenditure incurred by telecom operators in their network should be taken into account while determining the new IUC regime.
New telecom operators were divided on the issue of factoring capex for determining IUC.
