The Hindu : Shourie mission fails to check phone wars

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Mar 16, 2003

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Shourie mission fails to check phone wars

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI MARCH 15. The conflict between cellular and limited mobility companies will now be resolved in the courts following the Communications Minister, Arun Shourie's failure to resolve the issues through an across-the-table meeting between the protagonists.

The Government has given up faith in the ability of phone company owners to sort out their dispute this week after the latest in a series of meetings broke up with neither side willing to concede ground. Soon after taking over, Mr. Shourie had hoped that "practical men", who included Mukesh Ambani, Rajeev Chandrashekhar of BPL and Bharti Telecom's Sunil Mittal, would end the phone wars by March 1.

Analysts had said that Mr. Shourie's expectations were far-fetched when he set up the panel amid much publicity in February. He himself had stayed away from the deliberations though two Government officers participated in most meetings. On the other hand, none can accuse Mr. Shourie of not attempting an amicable settlement.

The breakdown of talks will not have any impact on the new tariffs due to take effect from April 1. Consumers will not be affected when they subscriber to any of the various telecom services being offered by the companies. Technically, a final ruling on roaming and limited mobility being offered by the limited mobility companies such as Reliance and Tatas will remain sub judice. These companies can continue enrolling subscribers and offering them limited mobility till the issue is decided by the courts.

Currently, the Telecom Dispute Settlement and Appellate Authority (TDSAT), a specialised court created after bifurcating the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India, is hearing the case. The TDSAT has declined to give an interim order and offered space to the Shourie panel by adjourning a couple of hearings on various grounds. It has listed the case for March 17. The next stage for either of the aggrieved side is to approach the Supreme Court. Analysts feel the final legal word on the dispute is possible towards the later part of the year.

Cellular companies have challenged limited mobility itself. Pending a solution, they want the basic phone companies to "limit" this mobility to local call areas by installing the V5.2 technology. But the basic phone companies claim that this technology is outdated. Cell firms are also objecting to the "multiple registration" scheme being offered by the limited mobility companies as they feel that it would amount to introducing roaming through the side door.

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