The government is likely to take strong action against Tata Teleservices [Get Quote] for violating ISP licence conditions by offering Push-To-Talk services last year, which the authorities have said "could have been a threat to national security."

According to sources, department of telecom is of the view that the company willfully violated the terms and conditions of the licence with basic intention to bypass statutory charges like access deficit charge.

Similar view was also reinforced by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India. As regards malafide intentions of the company, DoT said Tata Teleservices (Maharashtra) Ltd had only applied recently under its Unified Access Service Licence for provision of PTT, where ADC is payable.

When initially notice was issued by DoT regarding PTT, the company had replied that they were providing the services under UASL.

"It is thus proved beyond doubt that basic intention of TTML was to avoid payment of licence fee and statutory payment like ADC, annual licence fee under their UASL licence being 12 per cent of gross revenue, while the same is Re 1 annually under ISP licence," DoT sources said.