Telecom Regulatory Authority of India on Wednesday issued another directive to Bharti, Spice and Hutchison-Essar following blocking of calls originating from the basic telecom players offering limited mobile services in Punjab and Chennai.
Trai has asked these cellular operators for compliance by providing interconnection within 24 hours.
The Trai directives have been issued to Bharti and Spice in the context of blocking of calls originating from HFCL Infotel, the basic telecom player in Punjab. Another directive has been sent to Bharti and Hutchison following blocking of calls of Tata Teleservices in Chennai.
According to the Trai letter, in case of HFCL, "HFCL Infotel, basic service operator in Punjab Telecom Circle have represented that the calls originating in their network transited through BSNL and terminating in your network are being blocked. These calls are flowing into your network through an existing interconnection link."
"This selective blocking of calls, as reported, is highly objectionable and is violative of the licence agreement as well as the regulations relating to interconnection and quality of services, issued by the authority from time to time," the letter said.
"To ensure the compliance to licence terms and conditions and to protect consumers' interest as per Trai (Amendment) Act 2000, the authority hereby direct you under section 13 of Trai Amendment Act 2000 to ensure completion of calls originated by WLL subscribers of HTIL and terminating in your network with immediate effect," Trai said in its letter to Bharti and Spice Communications.
The second letter to Bharti and Hutchison-Essar is for blocking calls originating from Tata Teleservices, basic telecom player in the Chennai telecom circle.
In this case too, the Authority has directed the cellular operators - Bharti and Hutchison-Essar - for reporting compliance to this directive within 24 hours.
When contacted the officials of the cellular companies said they did not receive any Trai communication and refused to comment on Trai's action.