Interconnection to get BSNL nod in 3 mths

In what could give a major impetus to private telecom operators in expanding network and reducing congestion, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) will clear about 2,500-4,000 pending interconnection applications within three months.

The operator has also committed to give new interconnection applications to operators within a month.

"We have provided about 45,000 interconnections while about 2500-4000 applications are pending. We will try to clear pending applications within three months and provide interconnection for fresh applications within a month," said J P Gupta, director (Operations), BSNL.

The issue of interconnection is a bone of contention between BSNL and private operators. Currently, private operators get interconnection from BSNL but many a times they get the interconnection late, at times even a year.

BSNL also takes port charges (about Rs 55,000) for the interconnection while private operators do not charge for interconnection among themselves and gives interconnection instantly.

DoT officials admitted that interconnection is an issue in the telecom industry and the department is making efforts to solve it.

Joint secretary Department of Telecom (DoT) M Sahu said: "During the roundtable meeting of CEOs recently, BSNL has committed that from January onwards no interconnection order will spill more than a month. Gradually the period may also be reduced."

Sahu added that the committee has been set up with representatives from cellular operators' association COAI and AUSPI is checking the progress and periodically reporting to the DoT. The committee which sends the list of pending interconnection application every two months to the DoT.

Welcoming BSNL's move, secretary general of Association of Unified Service Providers of India (AUSPI) S C Khanna said, "Since the set up of the committee, there has been some progress but still there are some problems. This move comes a right time because the with the rural roll out coming soon, there will be more need of interconnection. In fact BSNL should also not charge for the interconnection."