The cellular operators have decided not to move the Supreme Court against the Telecom Dispute Settlement and Appellate Tribunal's judgement allowing wireless in local loop services, but asked the government to implement the ruling in its letter and spirit.
"We are not thinking of moving the Supreme Court at this moment. This thinking is unanimous. But the government should implement the order in letter and spirit," T V Ramachandran, director general, Cellular Operators Association of India, said after the executive council meeting of the cellular operators, in New Delhi on Tuesday.
On the day of TDSAT judgement, Spice Communications had also disfavoured moving the apex court, saying the issue needed to be resolved between the basic and cellular operators.
Permitting WLL services, TDSAT had last week asked the government to work out a package to provide a level playing field to the cellular operators by way of enhancing the entry fee, specturm charges, etc.
Ramachandran, however said that the discussions were on and it may take two-three more rounds to finalise the strategy.
COAI executive council includes cellular companies like Bharti, Idea, Escotel, Hutch, Hexacom and BPL among others.
This decision of the COAI executive council assumes significance as the association had, till now, maintained that the cellular industry and stakeholders "will study the WLL order in detail and after proper advice and consultation, decide on the next course of action."
However, last week the legal counsels of some cellular operators had indicated that the players might consider moving the Supreme Court against the TDSAT order.
Recently, the TDSAT had permitted WLL services in the country by a majority 2:1 judgement.