Fixed wireless service now escalates

CDMA service providers today said GSM players had no right to demand the details of fixed wireless services (FWT) offered by them, nor seek their compliance on the Department of Telecommunication's (DoT) directive that FWTs be strictly confined to the premises of subscribers by March 31.

On Tuesday, GSM body Cellular Operators' Association of India (COAI) had said:"If CDMA-based FWT providers were unable to give a separate numbering scheme for fixed wireline and fixed wireless, or unable to strictly confine the FWT to the premises of the subscriber, then, these services will be treated as WLL (M) for all purposes including IUC charges and interconnection arrangements."

Replying to the COAI's letter, SC Khanna, secretary-general, Association of Unified Telecom Service Providers of India (AUSPI), the body representing CDMA and fixed line players, said: 'It is incredulous that COAI should seek compliance of DoT directives from another organisation, particularly when a majority of members of COAI have been recently given show cause notices by both the licensor and the regulator for disregard and non-compliance of DoT directives.

"In fact, COAI members continued to violate DoT orders for over 18 months by offering certain illegal services, which the DoT had issued in June 2003."

AUSPI has also written to COAI stating that "on the issue of compliance of DoT directives on FWT services, its members will be corresponding directly with the licensor", while adding that the issue will be "addressed mutually between operators, and sectoral organisations like COAI had no role in it".

"It would be relevant to point out that associations like COAI and AUSPI have, over the years, been representing the overall industry views, but so far they have refrained from interfering in issues involving each other's business," the letter said.

Earlier, COAI had said its GSM players would be writing individually to AUSPI members to request for their numbering scheme, allocated separately for fixed wireline and for fixed wireless services in each of the SDCAs where FWT services were being offered.

COAI Director-General TV Ramachandran also urged the DoT to impose a stiff penalty on FWT providers for offering mobility in violation of the license conditions.

AUSPI, however, said COAI move to seek compliance from members of other associations was "misplaced" and recommended the two bodies continue the "earlier protocol of cordial dialogue for the benefit of the entire sector".