The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India on Thursday issued showcause notices to private cellular operators, including Bharti, Hutchison-Essar, Idea and BPL, for defying its directive to provide interconnectivity to basic telecom players offering limited mobile services.

"As per the notice, a time period of 72 hours will be given to these companies to give reasons for defying the authority's directive followed by a personal hearing expected on Monday," TRAI officials said.

The notices follow repeated directives by TRAI to these cellular companies for immediate interconnectivity with basic telecom players.

TRAI officials said the showcause notices marked the initiation of punitive action against these companies which may be up to Rs 100,000 fine for the first violation and Rs 200,000 for every subsequent act of violation.