Cellular operators are against the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) imposing access deficit charges because these will increase tariffs. They said if the charges were imposed on them, WLL operators should be covered as well.
This is the stand taken by cellular services firms on the consultation paper on interconnect charges issued by Trai yesterday. Their disapproval will make the review of the interconnect charges a rough affair.
Basic operators have different views on issues like the calling-party-pays regime and access deficit charges. They, including Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL), are in favour of imposing access deficit charges on all service providers to lower fixed line tariffs.
They are also against the calling-party-pays regime because it has hiked fixed-to-cell tariffs by 200 per cent.
On the other hand, cellular operators said they would oppose any attempt by the regulator to end the free incoming regime for mobile users.
