Vodafone blocks Aircel SMSs on disputer over interconnect fees

The telecom operators' spat over termination charges continues unabated, with Vodafone now blocking incoming text messages from Aircel following a non-payment of termination charges.

Vodafone has become the second operator to block Aircel's SMSes, after Bharti Airtel blocked the services a couple of days before Diwali.

Vodafone had blocked Aircel's network in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, New Delhi and Karnataka circles, with the dispute landing at the telecom tribunal.

The issue, which came up for hearing on Thursday before the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) has been deferred to Friday.

Many Aircel customers received messages mentioning of the block, with the company assuring them it was trying to resolve the issue.

Earlier, Bharti Airtel had blocked SMS traffic to Aircel and Reliance Communications (RCom), but connectivity to RCom subscribers were restored following an interim TDSAT ruling.

Airtel had blocked the text messages alleging that the companies were spamming its network with ''free SMS''.

Separately, a dispute between Tata Teleservices Ltd and Vodafone India over SMS termination charges also reached TDSAT. Vodafone India had issued a notice stating it would block the Tata group company's text messages on the latter's platform, unless it paid the termination fee.