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Telecom operators move SC against additional entry fee on WLL services
New Delhi, Oct 13: Basic telecom operators have approached Supreme Court against levying of additional entry fee for WLL mobile services as recommended by TDSAT.
New Delhi, Oct 13: Basic telecom operators have approached Supreme Court against levying of additional entry fee for WLL mobile services as recommended by TDSAT.
"We have approached Supreme Court on Saturday seeking directions to the Trai to ensure level playing field between basic and cellular operators while considering additional entry fee, if any, on the basic operators," association of basic telecom operators said in a statement here.
ABTO's move is significant as the government last night only decided to restrict the WLL services within the local call area known as SDCA.
ABTO has taken this step pursuant to the Telecom Dispute Settlement and Appellate Tribunal's (TDSAT) judgement which had recommended steps to be taken by the government to ensure level playing field between two types of operators.
Following TDSAT's judgement on august 8, ministry of communication and it had asked Trai to work out details entailing entry fee and other factors for which the regulator has already held open house discussion.
It is important to mention here that basic operators had objected to such a move, saying WLL services was nothing but one of the value added services by basic operators.
ABTO argued that the cellular operators had been permitted services like SMS, and WLL services should be seen as value added service for basic operators.
ABTO's move is significant as the government last night only decided to restrict the WLL services within the local call area known as SDCA.
ABTO has taken this step pursuant to the Telecom Dispute Settlement and Appellate Tribunal's (TDSAT) judgement which had recommended steps to be taken by the government to ensure level playing field between two types of operators.
Following TDSAT's judgement on august 8, ministry of communication and it had asked Trai to work out details entailing entry fee and other factors for which the regulator has already held open house discussion.
It is important to mention here that basic operators had objected to such a move, saying WLL services was nothing but one of the value added services by basic operators.
ABTO argued that the cellular operators had been permitted services like SMS, and WLL services should be seen as value added service for basic operators.
Contending that the cellular operators have got benefits to the tune of Rs 13,000 crore on account of licence fee reduction to 8 to 12 per cent from 17 per cent earlier, ABTO said that the level playing field was tilted in favour of cellular operators.
Bureau Report