'Merge cellular, basic bodies'

In a letter to COAI's high command, Hexacom chief Navaid Khan said such a move would establish better understanding among all operators in the light of the government's decision to unify cellular and basic licences.

Hexacom's parent company Shyam Telecom also has basic service operations in Rajasthan and is part of both associations.

Khan has also suggested that COAI should not take any legal action on the issue of the unification of mobile and fixed-line telecom licences, which the government recently announced.

"Looking at Trai's recommendation on unified licence followed by the decision by group of ministers and the cabinet without any changes within three days reflects that the unified licence has become a reality. I suggest not to pursue the legal action on these issues any further," the Hexacom chief wrote.

COAI had earlier said that it was awaiting detailed guidelines from the department of telecom before initiating any further action on unified licence regime.

The Hexacom chief's letter has also said that existing GSM operators should be given additional relief including passing on the penalty amount of around Rs 500 crore, to be collected from Reliance Infocomm for violation of licence norms.

"The above would save legal action and expenses and would develop better understanding with the government and other operators," Khan wrote.

Hexacom's proposal to merge telecom associations has found support from basic service operators. Cellular service operators, on the other hand, said that the move was not possible in the current circumstances where both sides have completely divergent view on issues like WLL limited mobility and unification of licences.