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NEW DELHI, Dec. 19

IN what could have the existing mobile operators fuming, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has written to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) seeking its recommendations on allowing unlimited competition in the cellular sector.

Disclosing this on the sidelines of the launch of basic services operations of Tata Teleservices Ltd in Delhi, the Union Communications Minister, Mr Pramod Mahajan, noted that he was personally in favour of allowing more operators to compete in the cellular sector as it would be in the interest of the consumers.

However, a decision would be taken only after the recommendations of TRAI are received, subject to spectrum availability. As per the existing regulations, only four cellular operators are allowed to operate in each circle.

Mr Mahajan noted that TRAI has been asked to give its opinion along with the entry fee structure and the process through which this should be done- whether by auctioning or fixing a value for the entry. The authority, he said is expected to give its recommendations in a month.

As regards the Supreme Court decision on limited mobility, the Minister said he was hopeful that the Telecom Dispute Settlement Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) would allow the service, because not only has a lot of investment been made, but the consumers would also stand to benefit.

The Court, he said, had vindicated his stand that the limited mobility services are in the interest of the consumer. What is more, it even refused to stay the rollout of these services. Although the issue has been referred to the TDSAT, there is no need for the consumer to hesitate before taking up a limited mobility connection now as there is no risk involved, he said.

Reiterating his stand that the cellular operators are crying foul without basis, he said that they only seem to want concessions from the Government but are not willing to do their part.

They seek a reduction in licence fees and revenue sharing but at the same time accuse the DoT of discriminatory practices. He pointed out that cellular operators were not at a loss as they had opted for the NTP99 package of migration, which had mitigated much of their losses.

PM to take up Arun Jain issue: On the issue of releasing the Polaris CEO, Mr Arun Jain, from Indonesian prisons, Mr Mahajan said the External Affairs Minister, Mr Yashwant Sinha, had spoken to the Indonesian Government. The Government will wait till the evening. If by then, he is not released the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Bihari Vajpayee, will talk to the Indonesian President, Ms Megawati Sukarnoputri.

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