Trai asks BSNL, MTNL to file submissions on STD tariff issue

New Delhi, May 16: THE Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) on Wednesday asked Bharat Sanchar Nigam (BSNL), Mahanagar Telephone Nigam (MTNL), basic and cellular operators to file their written submissions on the issue of passing benefits of reduced STD tariffs to private operators by May 23.

During a three-hour interaction, BSNL, MTNL, Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) and Association of Basic Telecom Operators (ABTO) are understood to have made detailed presentations on the contentious matter.

Trai further asked all the involved parties to file their submission on the views by May 23. Trai’s interaction with the various operators today follows Telecom Dispute Settlement and Appellate Tribunal’s (TDSAT’s) direction to the telecom regulator last month, to give all the parties associated with the case, a fresh hearing.

According to sources, BSNL maintained its stand that the passing on the benefits of the reduced tariffs to private operators would extend the scope of concessional tariffs, beyond the prescribed limit of 200 km.

In April this year, the telecom regulator had set aside Trai’s impugned order directing Bharat Sanchar Nigam (BSNL) to pass the benefits of reduced STD tariffs to private operators, saying that principles of natural Justice had been grossly violated.

"Since the defect of not giving a hearing to BSNL goes to the root of the matter, we set aside the impugned direction given by Trai on January 25 and February 7," TDSAT had said in its order.

Noting that a proper hearing should have been given to BSNL before any order was passed modifying the new tariff, the tribunal said, "any direction passed by Trai behind the back of BSNL will have to be set aside as they were passed without any opportunity of hearing to BSNL."

The legal battle began when Trai directed BSNL to provide parity to private operators using BSNL network, after the corporation announced lowering of long distance tariff up to 200 km while adjusting rentals throughout the country in January this year.

In January, TRAI had decided that BSNL’s revised pulse rate shall apply to inter-network call also. The following day, Trai issued an order directing that the revised pulse rate should also apply for calculating the carriage charge to be paid by a cellular mobile network to the fixed network, as also for the carriage charge paid by private basic service providers to BSNL on intra-circle fixed to fixed network calls. (PTI)