Five GSM operators agree to connect with Reliance Communications

Mumbai: Five GSM operators, including Idea Cellular, Tata Communication and MTNL, have agreed to link up their networks with the Anil Ambani group company Reliance Communications, a day ahead of the 21 August deadline issued by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) to give interconnection to the new GSM operator.

Idea Cellular is reported to have agreed to provide interconnection to Reliance Communications and have opted out of the COAI plan to move the Telecom Disputes Settlement And Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) against the TRAI's directive.

Aircel and Spice Communication have also agreed to provide interconnectivity, while public sector BSNL is in negotiations with the Reliance Communications, reports said.

''We are in a dialogue with them (Reliance Communications). There has been no conclusion yet on the outcome of our talks on an agreeable interconnection arrangement,'' BSNL CMD Kuldeep Goyal had said.

Bharti and Vodafone are yet to consider giving interconnectivity to Reliance Communication.

TRAI had directed all GSM operators, including Idea Cellular, BPL, Vodafone Essar and Bharti Airtel, to interconnect with RCom latest by 21 August.

COAI, which is readying documents and is expected to file the petition with TDSAT by 21 August.

TRAI, in its second ultimatum to GSM operators, had cited interconnectivity as a licensing condition and had given a 21 August deadline for giving interconnections to the Reliance Communications' GSM operations.

GSM operators argue that Reliance GSM has a new network for which commercial term has to be re-negotiated. The existing arrangement between Reliance Communications and GSM operators are for the CDMA network.