Telcos illegally adding 3G roaming subscribers, says BSNL

Worries for private telcos over 3G services just don’t seem to end. The telcos had earlier approached The Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT), requesting it to pay heed to their woes over 3G roaming pacts, which the DoT termed illegal. Now, BSNL has approached TDSAT claiming that operators Bharti Airtel, Idea, Tata and Aircel are offering 3G services by misrepresenting people on the ‘strength of illegal arrangements/agreements,’ reports The Economic Times.

Telcos face yet another blow

In an application filed, BSNL said, “In some telecom service areas, without paying for 3G spectrum or investing a single penny in setting up telecom infrastructure, network etc are illegally acquiring and continue to acquire subscriber by misrepresenting that they can provide 3G services.” Further it said that offering 3G services to 2G subscribers via roaming should be prohibited and it is against the terms and conditions of roaming guidelines by DoT. 

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Reportedly, it claims that telecos “distorted the 3G auction conducted by DoT on April 19, 2010 by cartelisation and collusion and hence duped the state exchequer and BSNL of huge sums of money.” BSNL has also requested TDSAT to form a party along with DoT in the 3G services issue on roaming services. The telcos will supposedly file their reply to BSNL’s contention, this week.