New Delhi, Sep 01: Justifying their action of blocking WLL calls in January this year, cellular operators have asked the telecom regulator, Trai to withdraw criminal proceedings against them saying such action will have an adverse impact on Indian companies in the world market, including their relationship with foreign partners. According to sources, cellular mobile service providers (CMSP) / COAI have made representations to Trai recently and said, "Their action was justified under the prevailing circumstances as a defensive measure and to protect their legitimate interest as operators.”

Trai, however, has said that cellular operators' contention of justifying their action of blocking WLL calls was "incorrect" in view of the interconnection agreement between them (cellular operators) and BSNL. According to sources, cellular mobile service providers (CMSP) / COAI have made representations to Trai recently and said, "Their action was justified under the prevailing circumstances as a defensive measure and to protect their legitimate interest as operators.”
The cellular operators have submitted that there was no interconnection between the networks of concerned WLL operators and the cellular operators in the respective telecom circles. The existing link was only for calls originating from any of the BSNL's network and terminating in cellular operators network and vice-versa.
According to the interconnection clause, Trai said, BSNL is at liberty to transit and offer calls originating from other networks to cellular networks.

Cellular operators had not compiled with the directions of Trai in January this year and continued blocking calls thereby not only violating the directions of the Authority but also causing an inconvenience to subscribers. This had led to the initiation of penal action against the erring operators.
The TDSAT has stayed the decision till October 14, the next date of hearing of the appeal.
CMSPs have also sited the case of MTNL and have represented that no action was taken by the authorities against MTNL for similar blocking of calls.
According to Trai, MTNL's case was different from the CMSPs as there was no occasion for the authority to issue the directive to MTNL.
However, the explanation was called for from MTNL regarding the disruption of the traffic, Trai sources said.