The Hindu Business Line : One India plan by private operators under threat

The Government's `One India' plan could run into rough weather with the private cellular operators claiming that the state-owned Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) is continuing to charge higher levies from them despite a steep reduction announced by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI).

According to a notice sent by BSNL to all operators on February 28, operators have been asked to pay the Access Deficit Charge on a per minute basis even though the telecom regulator had introduced the new system of revenue share, which is to be effective from March 1. Cellular operators have also pointed out that BSNL is still charging ADC on rural connections even though the TRAI order had exempted revenue from rural areas for the purpose of computing ADC.

The operators have lodged their protest with BSNL and are also planning to meet officials in TRAI and the Department of Telecom on the issue. They have announced STD rates at Re 1 a minute on the assumption that the relief given by TRAI, while announcing the revised ADC regime, would be implemented by BSNL. The revised regime had brought down the total collection from ADC to Rs 3,300 crore, which meant that BSNL would be getting Rs 1,800 crore less than last year.

BSNL officials said the notices sent to the operators were compliant with the TRAI norms but the concerns raised by them were being looked into.

Disconnection threat

An operator in Maharashtra said the BSNL staff was putting pressure on the private players to comply with its circular by threatening to disconnect operators. "We are facing pressure in the field for implementation of this flawed circular and are being threatened with disconnection. Such coercive actions by BSNL are against public interest,'' said a cellular operator.

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