Cellcos, BSNL now differ on roaming revenue share

Cellular companies, led by Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), have locked horns with BSNL over sharing of revenue earned from roaming subscribers within the country as well as those coming from abroad.

COAI has slammed BSNL's demand of 50% revenue from international roamers, saying "this is nothing but high-handed approach of the public sector."

BSNL officials, on the other hand, said traffic from roamers, whether within the country or from overseas, should be treated separately from the usual interconnection agreement between service providers.

BSNL had issued a circular last week to implement new interconnection rates with revised roaming charges from February 1, coinciding with the implementation of new ADC regime. It, however, deferred the issue for one week to ink new agreements with cellular operators.

COAI has approached Trai for intervention in the matter.

D P S Seth, member of Trai, said: "We are examining the issue raised by COAI, and a decision in this regard will be taken soon."