Date:05/04/2005 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2005/04/05/stories/2005040502510100.htm

Back VSNL served notice on ILD calls issue

Thomas K. Thomas

New Delhi , April 4

THE Department of Telecom on Monday issued a show-cause notice to Tata-managed Videsh Sanchar Nigam Ltd (VSNL) for allegedly routing international long distance calls through private leased line network used by business process outsourcing units. The DoT has said that it appeared that VSNL was trying to bypass the payment of Access Deficit Charge (ADC) by converting ILD calls into data traffic meant for BPOs.

"It has been brought to the notice of the government that VSNL is providing so called variable charge International Private Leased Circuit (IPLC) services to some call centres. These numbers are not in public domain and can be at most termed dummy numbers. The details of these numbers are not with the security agencies," said a senior DoT official.

The notice to VSNL said that it appeared that the company was violating ILD licence norms. DoT has given 15 days for the company to give its response. The company has also been asked to provide the list of the BPOs to whom the service was being provided and the details of the traffic.

"VSNL is required to explain as to how the variable charge IPLC service involving switching of traffic through VSNL's traffic and terminating on call centre is not in violation of licence conditions," said the DoT notice. As per the licence norms, IPLC cannot be used to offer ILD services directly to consumers. All ILD traffic has to be routed through an access provider, basic or cellular, and a share of the revenue has to be passed on to Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd as ADC payments.