Our Bureau

New Delhi , Sept. 5

THE Department of Telecom (DoT) may set up a committee to look at the concerns raised by CDMA-based operators against the decision to restrict fixed line technology to only wire line technology.

CDMA operators including Reliance Infocomm and Tata Teleservices had sought a review of the decision by the Government and have also presented their case to the Communication Ministry.

The operators have requested the Government to keep the order on hold for another three months, by which time the telecom regulator will come clear on the proposed revenue share arrangement for collecting access deficit charges.

The entire controversy had arisen because the cellular operators had complained that fixed telephone operators were using wireless technology to offer mobile-like services to avoid ADC payments.

Following the complaint, the DoT issued a notice to the CDMA operators asking them to restrict mobility on fixed wireless terminal (FWT) phones.

When operators expressed their inability to restrict the mobility within the subscriber's premises, the DoT ordered the operators to consider FWT phones as mobile phones for ADC purposes.

While fixed line phones don't have to pay ADC, mobile phone operators have to pay the charges to BSNL for rural obligation.

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