ADC Cut: BSNL moves tribunal against Trai

State-run Bharat Sanchar Nigam (BSNL) today approached the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) against the decision of Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) to cut a levy paid by private operators to the public sector company for its rural operations.

BSNL has filed an appeal with TDSAT against the regulator's revised norms on access deficit charge (ADC).

Trai had, on March 21, announced a 37% reduction in ADC for 2007-08 to Rs 2,000 crore from Rs 3,200 crore. The new rates were to be effective from April 1.

The levy is paid by private telecom operators to BSNL for meeting the cost of unprofitable operations in rural areas.