HC stays DoT order barring inter-circle 3G roaming

In a big relief to 3G subscribers of Bharti Airtel and other telecom majors like Vodafone and Idea Cellular, the Delhi High Court has granted a stay on a government order asking these companies to stop offering 3G mobile services outside their licensed areas through roaming pacts.

The High Court on Wednesday barred the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) from taking any 'coercive' measures against the country's largest telecom company till the next date of hearing, which it did not specify.

Justice Rajiv Shakdher said in his order, "Department of Telecommunication will not take any coercive action against the petitioner which will respond to the show-cause notice within 60 days."

The date for next hearing has not been decided.

This effectively means that Bharti Airtel can continue to offer 3G services in the seven circles - Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Kolkata, Uttar Pradesh East, Gujarat, Kerala and Haryana - where it does not have 3G spectrum, but offers 3G services through roaming pacts.

Though Vodafone and Idea are yet to receive similar notices from the DoT, the court stay augurs well for them too.