DoT, Trai differ over rollout obligation for dual-tech firms

The telecom regulator has shot off a letter to the licensor, the DoT, in this regard.

This has now become the latest issue on which the two have aired their differences, the others being mobile number portability, 3G spectrum allocation and access deficit charges (ADCs).

The government had earlier permitted CDMA majors Tata Teleservices and Reliance Communications (RCom) to provide GSM services under a dual-technology initiative. They were also allotted spectrum in certain circles.

However, Trai wrote to the DoT that "contingent" rollout obligations should be applicable to dual-technology service providers. The rollout obligations state that the company should cover 10 per cent district headquarters in the first year of operations and 50 per cent within three years.

Industry sources say this has put the DoT in a dilemma as additional rollout obligations will be applicable for the same circles where dual-technology service providers