MTNL refutes Reliance allegations on infrastructure charges
20 Feb 2007
New Delhi: Public sector telecom provider that MTNL today rebutted before the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT), Reliance Communication's allegations of arbitrarily increasing infrastructure charges paid by telecom operators three-fold, while responding
"If Reliance feels that it is excessive then they have liberty to go elsewhere. We are not obliged to provide them space in our premises," MTNL counsel Arun Kathpalia said during proceedings before TDSAT.
Reliance had alleged yesterday that MTNL arbitrarily increased infrastructure charges and contended that such charges should be based on costs instead of profits.
Infrastructure charges are paid by private telecom companies to BSNL and MTNL as rental and maintenance fees to station their link equipments, including terminals and antennas, in the premises of the government-run companies to get connected in their NLD and ILD networks, it said.
Rejecting Reliance Communication's contention that as per the interconnection agreement between them, such charges were to decided mutually, he said it was only for other services such as installation and maintenance.
MTNL currently charges Rs21.75 lakh per slot in Mumbai and Rs29 lakh in Delhi. According to reliance, prior to the increase, the rate was Rs7.55 lakh only.
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