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Thomas K. Thomas

New Delhi, Aug. 20 The interconnection row between Reliance Communications and existing GSM players seems to be heading towards a resolution with the latter side backing off from its aggressive stance against providing links.

The compromise between the two sides was thrashed out after the telecom regulator intervened and threatened to take action against existing GSM operators for not giving links to Reliance Communications. While Idea Cellular has already opened up its network for interconnecting with Reliance, other operators are expected to follow suit by Thursday.

Earlier, the telecom regulator had said operators who do not offer interconnection to Reliance Communications by August 21 will have to face action.

With just one day left for the TRAI imposed deadline, GSM operators have decided not to take on the regulator’s directive. GSM operators had earlier threatened to defy the telecom regulator’s directive to give links to Reliance Communication by August 21. GSM players, including Bharti Airtel, Vodafone Essar and Idea Cellular had taken a stance that the TRAI’s order was misplaced as RCom’s GSM network was a new network and, therefore, the commercial terms of the interconnection have to be renegotiated.

TRAI, however, issued a directive asking the GSM operators including state-owned BSNL to offer links to Reliance Communications.

With interconnection in place, Reliance Communications will now be able to start commercial services as it means that a Reliance GSM subscriber would be able to call any of the 200 million GSM subscribers belonging to the existing operators across the country. RCom had recently announced a soft launch of its GSM services in Delhi for some of its employees.

RCom had taken a stand that since the Government had allowed it roll to out GSM services under the existing unified licence there was no need to negotiate a new interconnect agreement with other operators. This position was ratified by the TRAI, which said that the cellular licence mandates that operators have to give links to other players within a stipulated period of time.

More Stories on : Regulatory Bodies & Rulings | Telecommunications | Reliance Communications Ltd | Corporate Disputes

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