The Hindu Business Line : RCom pays up Rs 48 cr to BSNL for restoring interconnection

New Delhi, Jan. 4 Reliance Communications has paid up Rs 48 crore to Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd as an interim payment to restore interconnection between the two operators in Kerala.

The move follows a direction by the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal on Friday directing the Anil Ambani Group company to pay 65 per cent of an amount claimed by state-run BSNL.

The state-owned company has alleged that RCom had illegally routed international long distance calls and has evaded payment of carriage charges. It had disconnected the interconnection with RCom following which the company filed an appeal in TDSAT.

Passing an interim order, TDSAT also directed BSNL to restore RCom’s interconnection within 48 hours of such payment. The TDSAT Chairman, Justice Mr Arun Kumar, said: “I am of a view that the petitioner (RCom) should deposit an amount of 65 per cent of disputed claim in one week and the respondent (BSNL) should restore the connection within 48 hours of paying the deposit.”

The company had sought restoration of interconnection for its Kerala circle, disconnected by BSNL on January 1, on account of non-payment of fees.

Call rates

BSNL had claimed Rs 90 crore from the CDMA operator alleging violation of Caller Line Identity (CLI) and wrong routing of international calls as local calls. BSNL contended that RCom was supposed to pay Rs 5 per minute as carriage charge for ISD calls, while the fees for local calls was 30 paise only.

“It saved Rs 4.70 paise per minute by showing the international calls as local calls by tampering CLI,” alleged BSNL. This was strongly opposed by RCom, which contended that all the claims made by BSNL are without any evidence.

The company had earlier run into trouble with its Home Country Direct service whereby it was alleged that the company was bringing in international calls as local calls in a bid to avoid paying the access deficit charges.

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