GSM firms have finally agreed to provide the interconnectivity to prospective Reliance Communication?s GSM users. The decision was reached after Trai took up the issue with the GSM operators.
The GSM operators like Bharti Airtel, Vodafone Essar, Idea Cellular weren?t agreeing to open the new number series of `90? for Rcomm’s upcoming GSM services on the grounds that it should sign new interconnect agreements with them as a GSM operator.
Rcomm, however refuted the claim saying its GSM licence was not a new one so its existing CDMA interconnect pact should be recognised. Interconnectivity is a pact, signed between mobile operators for completing calls which commence from one operator?s network and terminate on another?s. Unless an interconnect pact is signed between Rcomm and another GSM operator such as Bhari or Vodafone, its GSM subscriber would not be able to call any Bharti or Vodafone subscriber.
BSNL was the first operator to agree to providing interconnectivity to Rcomm, ?When others are doing it, we will also do it. We have no choice. We always follow Trai’s directives,” BSNL director finance, SD Saxena said.
Currently, Rcomm is predominantly a CDMA mobile operator, with its GSM operations being confined to only eight circles. However, last year under the government?s dual technology policy, it was allowed to provide GSM services in the remaining 14 circles of the country. Subsequently it was also allocated spectrum for the same. The company plans to roll outs services by the end of the fiscal.
The GSM operators had earlier said that Rcomm was simply trying to get a head-start over other new licencees like Unitech, and Datacom.
