Reliance to seek legal counsel on GoM's WLL stand

A senior company official also said here that even after the GoM's endorsements of the TDSAT judgement of Reliance violating rules of the limited mobility by offering its CDMA subscribers roaming facilities, Reliance's business activity has not yet been affected though he did not rule out the possibility of TDSAT judement and GoM reactions affecting the CDMA subscribers.

"Reliance never violate any rule and it was well within the frame-work of the TDSAT's judgement as well as licencing conditions. We however would look into the details of the decision of GOMs, obtain legal opinion on it and view the implications in right perspective," Reliance executive Parimal Nathwani, told Business Standard here on Wednesday.

Saying that it has been very much complying licence conditions, Nathwani said, "We are yet to receive any official communique from the GoM following its meeting last Sunday but we are obtaining legal options. From the business point of view, so far it not affected but it may be affected later if confusions are not cleared."

"The introduction of WLL services has been a boon to customers and in fact it has sparked off a telecom revolution in the country, Today sections of society who could not dreamt of owning phones are not only using them but are finding it very useful to carry on their business and other activities and these include housewives, students, small artisans, shopkeepers, drivers, mechanics and the like besides section of middle class," he said.

Blaming certain quarters and also government, Nathwani said, "There has been an ongoing misinformation campaign by certain quarters in the industry and the government departments as if Reliance Infocomm was operating illegally and even large number of customers were at great risk in using Reliance India Mobile. But such wrongful onslaught on Reliance Infocomm's services could not deter the overwhelming response and the customers increased leaps and bounds."

But subscribers think otherwise as Nehal Kumar, a Reliance user who is based in Ahmedabad and travels across Gujarat intensively, said, "As the TDSAT called the roaming facility illegal, we are afraid that if roaming services will not be available in future, this connection and instrument will be meaningless for me as I use this phone while travelling only and so far I have been enjoying the roaming facilities when I am travelling to other cities and towns in Gujarat. Now even if I want to exit from Reliance CDMA connection, I will have to pay a huge amount for disconnection of the services and I guess all the subscribers will lose their confidence on such a big company."

Saying that the in case of TDSAT and GOM decisions prevail in days ahead, Reliance should work out easy exit for its subscribers who want to discontinue services, Kumar said, "Reliance should have thought of such consequences before offering the roaming services to us."