Vodafone settles dispute with Loop, to restore calls

Within 24 hours of blocking incoming calls from Loop Telecom users in Mumbai, Vodafone on Tuesday said it is restoring their connection to its network as the two companies have reached a settlement on interconnection charges.   “We have reached an agreement for payment settlement with Loop Mobile. Accordingly the connection is being restored,” a Vodafone spokesperson said.   On Monday, Vodafone had blocked incoming calls from Loop, which has over 3 million users in Mumbai.   The telecom major said these payments from Loop were long overdue, forcing it to restrict calls.   A Loop Mobile spokesperson said: “Loop Mobile regrets the inconvenience caused to subscribers in Mumbai. This was due to a financial disagreement between Loop Mobile and Vodafone which has now been resolved. The voice calling services shall start shortly.”   As per sectoral regulator Trai, a mobile operator on whose network a call originates has to pay charges to the telecom company on whose network the call terminates.   The current termination charge is 10 paisa a minute.   Vodafone is Mumbai’s largest operator by subscribers currently. Loop Mobile is in the process of transferring its assets and customers to Bharti Airtel, under a strategic agreement announced in February. Although Airtel did not share the amount of the deal but industry sources estimated it to be worth Rs 700 crore.   PTI