BSNL approaches TDSAT against Trai order

New Delhi, Oct 09: Bharat Sanchar Nigam, which is readying for the launch of its cellular services, is believed to have approached the telecom tribunal against Trai's Cellular Tariff Order of September 6. In its tariff order, Trai had announced its decision to refrain from specifying tariffs for the services, leaving the determination of prices to market forces, except in those cases where the service provider was offering any other type of service in the same circle, such as basic or long distance. Such operators would be required to report tariffs for regulator's approval five days prior to implementation.

BSNL has challenged the Trai order alleging it is discriminatory as it mandated only BSNL and Mahanagar telephone Nigam (MTNL) to get prior approval for cellular tariffs, BSNL sources said.
Sources said BSNL felt that the Trai order did not apply to other companies which operated various services through group entities.

"There are groups which operate various services under different registered names, and these are being treated as separate entities," BSNL sources said while adding that the criteria for reporting tariffs for approval did not apply to such companies.

The Trai order came at a time when BSNL was in the process of readying for the launch of its cellular services, CellOne. Bureau Report