Post dept, cell firms differ over user verification

Mobile firms and the department of posts have failed to work out a mechanism for subscriber verification.

The officials of the two sides, who met today, failed to resolve the differences over pricing and exclusivity.

"Unless we are sure of how much business will come from them, we cannot do business. We need an assurance that the DoP will be sole verifying agency," Lal said.

While the DoP wants mobile firms to pay over and above the current rate of Rs 25, which it presently charges for similar service, private operators want it to be lower.

"We will give them volume discounts in a graded manner but we can not operate below cost. It has to be cost plus", Lal said.

He said dop earned rs 1200 crore from sale of business products last fiscal out of the total revenue of rs 5300 crore.