Date:10/01/2008 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2008/01/10/stories/2008011052580400.htm

Tribunal issues notice to DoT on RCom plea

Our Bureau

New Delhi, Jan. 9 The Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal has issued notice to the Department of Telecom on a petition filed by Reliance Communications seeking withdrawal of additional spectrum held by existing GSM operators.

The company in its appeal said that the DoT had allocated up to 10 Mhz spectrum to GSM operators even as the licence agreement had stipulated only a maximum of 6.2 Mhz.

While the TDSAT did not pass any interim order, it has agreed to make the GSM operators party to the case. The tribunal has directed the DoT and GSM operators to file their replies in four weeks. It also directed RCom to file rejoinder to its reply within four weeks. The next hearing will be on March 25.

Hearing on dual tech

Meanwhile, the TDSAT has set January 24 as the next date of hearing for the Cellular Operator’s Association of India’s plea against the DoT’s decision to allow dual mobile technology to CDMA operators including RCom.

The COAI, which represents GSM operators, has filed a similar appeal in the Delhi High Court.

GSM operators and RCom are at loggerheads over allocation of spectrum. GSM operators are opposing Reliance’s entry into their turf on the grounds that the process followed by the DoT was flawed. RCom is contesting the quantum of spectrum allocated to GSM operators until now.