BSNL gives link to RCom, COAI not to move TDSAT

Meeting regulator Trai's deadline, country's largest telecom operator BSNL has provided interconnection to Reliance Communications' GSM network.      

"When others are doing it (giving link to RCom), we will also do it. We have no choice. We always follow Trai's directives. Giving interconnection to others is a rule for us. Why is this a big issue?... In fact there is no issue here. We have been very liberal with giving link to other players," BSNL Director, Finance, S D Saxena, told PTI.      

COAI, the GSM operators' body which was planning to move TDSAT, also said there is now no need of of going to the sectoral tribunal over the matter.      

COAI Director General TV Ramachandran, told PTI, "We are happy that we are moving towards a resolution under the good offices of Trai on the matter in a fair and equitable manner. Since there seems to be all-round efforts to resolve the issue, there is no need of going to TDSAT over the matter."      

Two key GSM operators Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Essar are also learnt to have agreed in-principle to provide link to RCom's GSM network. This brings to partly an end the interconnection row that was potentially threatening to be a full-blown legal issue with GSM operators thinking of approaching TDSAT and halting Reliance's GSM march.     

Five other operators - MTNL, Aircel, Tata Communications, Spice and Idea Cellular - have already agreed to open their networks to RCom.     

Trai had given time till today to give interconnection to RCOM or face penalty.     

The move would pave way for RCom's smooth GSM network rollout as its subscribers would be able to connect with other mobile users.