Setback for COAI's Walky campaign

Idea and Aircel refuse to go against Walky services.

The GSM operators bid to support BSNL against the alleged bypass of access deficit charge by "Walky" fixed wireless services offered by Tata Teleservices received a setback, as two of its members have decided against joining the corporate war.

Idea Cellular, in which the Tatas hold a 33 per cent stake, and Aircel, the leading mobile operator in Tamil Nadu, have decided to stay away from the intervention petition filed by the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) against Walky services.

While Idea Cellular's position on the petition was known, sources said Aircel Cellular had backed out as its promoter C Sivasankaran was closely associated with the Tata group.

COAI executives said the incident had no "serious consequences" on the unity between all GSM operators in the country.

Earlier, COAI had said FWT services such as Walky, were offering the advantage of mobility while collecting ADC charges on the basis that the service was a fixed service.

"These services, which could be used throughout the service area, were creating a non-level playing field for cellular services," the association said.

The GSM body had also taken up the issue with the Association of Unified Telecom Service Providers of India (AUSPI), the body representing CDMA and fixed-line players.

In a letter to AUSPI, COAI 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 would be treated as WLL (M) for all purposes, including IUC charges and interconnection arrangements."

WRONT NUMBER

• Idea Cellular, a joint venture between the Tatas, Birlas, and Aircel, decides not to be a party in COAI's plea
• COAI had impleaded itself in the case against Walky filed by BSNL
• The change in combinations of operators has badly dented COAI's claim of unity