In a relief to Airtel, Vodafone and Idea, telecom tribunal TDSAT today overturned a government ban on offering 3G mobile services beyond their licensed zones through roaming pacts saying it was in national interest to allow better utilisation of scarce radio frequency.
The judgement brought relief to the three operators, who faced a penalty of Rs 1,200 crore for entering into pacts with each other to offer 3G services in regions where they did not win spectrum in the 2010 auction.
The Department of Telecom (DoT) had banned such intra-circle roaming (ICR) agreements, saying they enabled the companies to offer 3G services without buying spectrum. This was challenged by operators before the TDSAT.
"We find and hold that the intra-circle 3G roaming arrangement does not violate any provision of the UAS licence held by the two sides and it is not open to the government to prohibit the petitioners from carrying out the services in terms of the agreements," said a TDSAT bench headed by Chairman Justice Aftab Alam in an order.
TDSAT also quashed penalties on Bharti Airtel, Vodafone and Idea Cellular and notices issued to Aircel and Tata Tele in this regard.
"We accordingly quash the orders passed by the Committee at the DoT on 15 March 2013 in case of Bharti and on April 5 2013 in case of Vodafone and Idea.
"We also quash the communication issued by the Central Government against Aircel and Tata Teleservices dated 23 December 2011," the tribunal said.
Sources said the government plans to challenge the TDSAT order before the Supreme Court.
The tribunal also said that same yard stick would 'equally' apply if ADAG group firm RCom and government controlled telecom firms enter into intra-circle roaming (ICR) arrangements with other operators.
The tribunal was of view the DoT prohibition on intra circle roaming between the operators on 3G network would leave the network unutilised.
"The prohibition of intra-circle 3G roaming would have the direct result of under-utilization of 3G spectrums which is plainly not in national interest," the tribunal said in its 88-page-long order.
According to the tribunal, ICR agreements between the operators would result in "much fuller and better utilisation" of 3G spectrum and would also increase revenue of provider and the seeker. It would also benefit the government which would get a per centage from the operator as license fee.
"The arrangement is thus beneficial to the consumer - the ordinary man, the operators and the State," it said.
TDSAT's order came over petitions filed by Airtel, Vodafone and Idea challenging DoT's direction to stop 3G intra-circle roaming agreement under which they had also agreed to acquire customers in areas where they did not win spectrum.
