TDSAT rejects BSNL's pleas on additional revenue share

Mumbai: The Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) has rejected a plea by state-owned Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) for additional revenue share from incoming national and international roaming calls of subscribers belonging to private operators.

"We are unable to persuade ourselves to approve the manner in which the appellant (BSNL) has tried to introduce revenue sharing in the mutually arrived interconnect agreement," the telecom tribunal said.

BSNL had demanded 50:50 share on national and international roaming calls as these were routed through BSNL's network and terminated on other companies' networks.

It had entered into interconnect agreements with other operators and was charging them. However, the sector regulator TRAI, after receiving complaints, had on September 11, 2006 fixed revenue sharing among operators at 30 paise per minute. This prompted BSNL to approach the tribunal.

The Cellular Operators Association of India had also filed a different petition in the same matter seeking refund of the extra amount charged by BSNL after TRAI's decision.