Business Daily from THE HINDU group of publications
Sunday, Apr 01, 2007
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Business Daily from THE HINDU group of publications Sunday, Apr 01, 2007 ePaper |
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Info-Tech
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Telecommunications New access deficit charges from today Our Bureau
Call slate Intl long distance rates expected to reduce by 80 paise/minute. Private operators expected to announce new tariffs this week. TDSAT schedules next hearing for April 12.
New Delhi March 31 The Telecom Dispute Settlement Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) has not stayed the reduction in access deficit charges (ADC) ordered by the telecom regulator, paving the way for cheaper international long distance calls. State-owned Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd had filed an appeal against the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India's (TRAI) decision to reduce the charges by 36 per cent on grounds that the move would hurt the company's rural roll-out plans.
Hearing on April 12
The new levy will be implemented from April 1 and the TDSAT has scheduled the next hearing on April 12. The tribunal has asked TRAI to respond to BSNL's appeal. The TRAI-initiated move is expected to bring down international long distance tariffs by 80 paise per minute. Private operators are expected to take the lead and announce new tariffs this week.
ADC support
ADC is a levy imposed on telecom operators to support rural telephony. Since BSNL has the largest rural subscribers, almost the entire fund collected is passed on to the PSU. The private operators are against paying the charges on grounds that the fund was being used by BSNL to cross subsidise its non-rural operations. Mr Ramji Srinivasan, appearing on behalf of the Association of Unified Telecom Service providers, said that BSNL was asking for ADC support even as it has quoted zero bids in the ongoing Universal Services Obligation Fund-initiated rural cellular project. To the dislike of BSNL, TRAI has reduced the quantum of this fund accruing to the PSU from over Rs 5,200 crore to Rs 2,000 crore in the last two years. This is the second time that BSNL has challenged TRAI's decision to reduce the charges. Last year too, BSNL had filed an appeal, which is yet to be disposed by the court.
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