DoT to seek details on rollout obligations

The department of telecommunications (DoT) is planning to seek details from four operators "" Bharti-Airtel, Hutchison-Essar, Tata Teleservices Ltd and Reliance Communications "" on the fulfillment of rollout obligations under the mobile telephony licence.

The DoT would look at penalising companies if they were found to be not fulfilling the obligations.

According to a DoT source, these operators are yet to "completely fulfill" the rollout obligations under clause 34 of the Universal Access Service Licence (UASL).

The DoT would seek data on signal strengths in the service areas, with details of in-building coverage, signal strengths and voice clarity, the source added. He, however, did not comment on the quantum of fine that could be imposed.

According to industry analysts, the operators have fulfilled almost 90 per cent of the rollout obligations, even though the percentage-wise details of the individual operators were not available.

However, some of them could be defaulting on certain parameters like providing signals in compounds and buildings under their jurisdiction, which might have led the DoT to seek an explanation.

If found guilty, the companies could be fined Rs 50 crore or above, a source said.

Meanwhile, the CDMA and GSM operators' associations have apprised the DoT of the work they have put in to fulfill the obligations. The associations are believed to have sought more time to comply with the regulations.