Mumbai, Aug 18: The Telecom Dispute Settlement Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) will hear the case filed by cellular operators against the use of mobile switching centres (MSCs) by basic operators on Tuesday. The case is important in that the TDSAT verdict would decide whether limited mobility operators like Reliance and Tatas can offer value-added services or just a no-frills limited mobility service. The MSC is at the heart of a cellular network as it allows the operator to provide value-added services like SMS (text messaging) and roaming, along with voice calls.

Cellular operators had filed a petition before the TDSAT, challenging the use of MSCs by limited mobility operators on the ground that basic operators had to use equipment based on the V5.2 standard if mobility is to be kept limited.
Even Trai had recommended that the WLL(M) system, which is part of a landline licence, should not include an MSC, otherwise there will be no difference between a mobile network operated by a cellular player and a basic service operator. Basic operators claim that V5.2 is an outdated technology and many of them have already set up advanced network architecture based on MSC. Bureau Report