MTNL to track call routing

The move comes against the backdrop of a dispute with Reliance Infocomm over routing.

International long-distance service companies, beware. State-owned Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd (MTNL) is set to instal a new billing and analysis software to verify calls that arrive at the operator's network in Delhi and Mumbai.

An MTNL executive today said the software, which would cost around Rs 10 crore, would also check whether a long-distance operator handed over calls to MTNL through an international pipeline, a national long-distance pipeline or a local line.

The company is installing the new software in the backdrop of a dispute with Reliance Infocomm. MTNL had recently alleged that the latter had been routing long-distance calls as local ones, thereby saving on the access deficit charge.

MTNL had initially threatened to disconnect calls to and from Reliance Infocomm's network. However, it relented even though the deadline to pay the dues expired last Thursday. "We are in talks with Reliance and are giving them the exact call verification and bills," an MTNL executive said.

Explaining the concept of routing and handing over calls, the executive said: "The software will detect whether a call is international or local as it will have a caller line identification. This will help us make appropriate billings. The new software will provide the entire data online." Since the data will be online, MTNL will also be able to bill long-distance operators daily.

"Unlike in the case of Reliance Infocomm, where it took us 4-5 months to get the information and claim our dues, online data can give us information daily," he pointed out.

The MTNL executive claimed Reliance Infocomm owed the company Rs 138 crore in Mumbai and Rs 146 crore in Delhi. A Reliance Infocomm spokesperson declined to comment on the matter. Communications and Information Technology Minister Dayanidhi Maran said Reliance Infocomm had written a letter to the government on the issue.

State-owned Bharat Sanchar Nigam (BSNL), too, is locked in a similar dispute with Reliance Infocomm. BSNL Chairman AK Sinha said BSNL had received Rs 60 crore from Reliance Infocomm for routing international calls as local. He said BSNL had claimed Rs 120 crore by way of access deficit dues.