TDSAT rejects Reliance Communication's contempt plea against COAI

Mumbai: The Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) has rejected a contempt application filed by Anil Ambani group company Reliance Communications against the Cellular Operators Association of India, for allegedly taking the legal battle on spectrum for a media trial.

TDSAT dismissed Reliance Communications'' demand to punish officials of COAI, including its director-general T V Ramachandran, for contempt of the tribunal. 

The COAI, however, declined to comment on the issue.

The tribunal also turned down COAI''s request to impose cost on RCom.

The COAI had approached the TDASAT challenging the government''s new telecom policy that allows CDMA service providers entry into GSM segment by "twisting rules to benefit one operator".

The COAI, a lobby group of GSM operators, had also accused the department of telecom (DoT) of acting with mala fide intentions to favour a particular CDMA operator (understood to be Reliance Communications).

Two other companies - HFCL and Shyam Telecom - also received the approval along with RCom.

However, COAI officials had said that there was unanimity among all GSM operators minus Reliance Telecom (an Anil Ambani group company which offers GSM services in eight circles) in the move to challenge DoT''s decision.