New Delhi, Aug 09: The two ever-warring factions of the telecom arena, basic and cellular operators both greeted the much-awaited TDSAT judgement on limited mobility. While basic operators are happy that it ends uncertainty over limited mobility, cellular operators maintained that the judgement had “dramatically altered” the scope of limited mobility. Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) is yet to decide on whether it will approach the Supreme Court over the verdict. Even as the TDSAT judgement ended uncertainty over limited mobility, it has created another controversy over the scope of limited mobility in metros. Taking advantage of some confused statements in the TDSAT order about the number of SDCAs in each metro, cellular operators have claimed that Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai would be broken into smaller areas (SDCAs) and limited mobility handsets would be non-operational if they cross over to another SDCA in the same city. Basic operators have refuted the claim, quoting their license agreement and SDCA numbering plan circulated in April. In all the four metros — Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkatta — the entire city is one single SDCA and the service will be available from the same handset through the city, they claim. Basic operators call it a win since it upheld the policy and claim that call forwarding will continue. “Now, the perceived uncertainty in the minds of the consumer will be reduced and is a right step in achieving teledensity as envisaged by the government,” says Manoj Modi, executive director, Reliance Infocomm. “There is no bar on call forwarding. The only inconvenience it appears is that while the customer is travelling, the limited mobility calls cannot be handed over from one short distance charging area (SDCA) to another. Thus, there may be call drops,” he adds.
Cellular operators are rejoicing as the level-playing issues have been raised. “Not just Justice Wadhwa, even the majority judgement raises the level playing field issues,” says TV Ramachandran, director general of COAI. Some in the cellular camp are of the view that the level-playing field conditions should be defined even sooner than four months. “The matter is not sub judice now and this is the best time to have a discussion and solve the matter amicably between government and all the operators,” said BK Modi, chairman, Spice Communications. “It is a victory for cellular industry as the limited mobility players cannot offer roaming services,” says Krishna Angara, COO, BPL Mobile, Mumbai.
"With the uncertainty removed, we will enhance the focus in growing the market and increase teledensity,” says SC Khanna, secretary general, ABTO.