The Hindu Business Line : Bharti complains to DoT against BSNL

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New Delhi Feb. 8 Bharti Airtel has sought the intervention of the Department of Telecom to ask State- owned Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd to not block calls carried by private long distance operators within a circle.

Bharti has shot off a complaint to DoT saying that BSNL was not taking calls made to its subscribers if the calls were being transmitted through the network of a private operator.

Bharti has pointed out that while DoT has allowed national long distance (NLD) operators to carry calls within a circle, BSNL was insisting that its approval was required.

"We would like to draw your attention to the amendment to the NLD licence agreement where DoT had allowed operators to terminate intra circle traffic with the consent of the originating operator only. Despite the amended definition on the scope of NLD services, BSNL is not permitting the private NLDOs to terminate intra circle traffic on its point of interconnection," said the Bharti letter to DoT.

Industry sources said that consumers were facing problems because a number of calls made by private operator's subscribers to BSNL users within the same circle were being blocked because the call was being carried on a private NLD network.

BSNL, on the other hand, said that it was not blocking any calls.

It also said that the issues involved revenue implications for the PSU to which DoT could not turn a blind eye.

Revenue loss

Admitting that BSNL was facing huge revenue loss, Bharti said that the same could not be a reason for any operator to not comply with the licence condition and deny legitimate right of NLD operators.

"You would appreciate while all other areas are being opened for competition, this is being artificially protected by BSNL despite a clear amendment in the licence agreement. We request DoT to issue a firm instruction to BSNL to allow the private NLDOs to terminate the intra-circle traffic on its existing point of interconnection," said the Bharti letter.