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Thomas K Thomas

New Delhi, Dec. 30 Six long-distance telephony operators, including Sify, Rail Tel Corporation, Power Grid Corporation, Tulip IT, HCL Infinet and Dishnet Wireless, have deposited outstanding payment as access deficit charges (ADC) to Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd following orders from the telecom regulator.

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) had intervened in the matter after state-owned BSNL complained that these six companies along with BT, MTNL and Essar-promoted Shippingstop Dot Com are not paying adequate charges to the PSU.

In a note to TRAI, BSNL had named 10 domestic long-distance operators and three international long-distance operators who have allegedly not paid the charges. ADC is a levy fixed by the telecom regulator and is paid by all the telecom operators to fund rural telephony. Since BSNL is the largest rural phone provider, most of the money collected through ADC accrues to the state-owned operator.

Following the BSNL’s complaint, the telecom regulator issued show-cause notices to all the companies. While the six companies confirmed that they have already deposited the amount, BT and Shippingstop Dot Com said that they had not started the services and therefore were not liable to pay the charges.

In its complaint, BSNL had said: “It is to bring to your notice that following NLD and ILD operators to whom licences were granted during the year 2006 and 2007 are not making the payments of ADC as per the provisions of Interconnect Usage Charges Regulation even after the written requests of BSNL which is gross violation of the IUC regulation and their licence conditions.”

TRAI said, “Your complaint raised stands settled. It is further requested that TRAI may be kept apprised of the future payments of ADC by the operators.”

More Stories on : Telecommunications | Rural Development | Regulatory Bodies & Rulings

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Six ILD operators pay up access deficit charges to BSNL

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