Cell firms to challenge order

Cellular operators may challenge the Trai order which has asked them to pay access deficit charge (ADC) on international and national roaming calls, saying the telecom regulator has manipulated the definition of such calls to ensure applicability of ADC.

"This is pure manipulation. They (Trai) have changed the definition of international and national call just to make ADC applicable. This is incorrect action and anti-consumer. This will have to be loaded against the consumers to recover the cost, which we do not want. We are in consultation with our members to take the next course of action.. This may be challenged," TV Ramachandran, director-general, Cellular Operators' Association of India (COAI), said.

"Rather than increasing the roaming tariffs, we would like to challenge the order, we are studying it. What was the tearing hurry to announce this when Trai has floated a consultation paper for a fresh round of ADC cut last month and the replying date has not even expired?" he asked adding the move was a manipulation to give route ADC to BSNL.

If cellular operators decide to recover the cost from consumers, the roaming tariff can increase from the current tariffs which were increased last year.

Trai officials, when contacted, said cellular operators had been charging Rs 100 a minute to international roamers in India and their calls in India were being treated by cellular companies as local calls and they were avoiding paying the due ADC of an incoming international call.

"With this order, there is no scope for such interpretation", they said.