Another TDSAT hearing on 3G roaming pact today/news09012012

The Telecom Dispute Settlement Appellate Tribunal ( TDSAT) is expected to give out its decision on the legality of the 3G roaming pacts signed between the operators.

The ruling favoring the telecom operators (in this case if the TDSAT allows for the 3G roaming among the players) would be sentimentally positive for the telecom operators.

Background

On Dec 23, DoT issued a show cause notice to the telecom operators, asking them to stop their 3G offering in the areas where they do not have spectrum, which was challenged by the operators and the matter was taken to TDSAT.

On Dec 24, the TDSAT came out with an interim order, favorable for the players, wherein it barred the telecom ministry ( DoT) from taking 'coercive' action against telecom companies, and the final ruling on the same would be announced today.

On Jan 3, in the turn of events at TDSAT, the telecom ministry questioned the very jurisdiction of telecom tribunal ( TDSAT) on entertaining the petitions of the telecom operators, challenging the government's directive to stop 3G roaming agreements.

The ministry further argued that in the recent judgment, the Supreme Court has said that the tribunal cannot entertain the petition which is altering the licence conditions, and it believes that with regard to 3G pact, the licensing conditions have been altered.
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