This decision would benefit 60 million cellular subscribers as it would restore level-playing field between all mobile services.
The DoT's decision ensures that such services, which are being offered in the name of fixed wireless, but do not conform to the scope and character of fixed services and provide the character of limited mobile services, should attract similar charges as mobile users, it said in a statement.
Fixed wireless phone? Pay more for calls
In the liberalised and highly competitive Indian mobile market, the CDMA operators are actually seeking a subsidy from 60 million cellular users so that they could offer a competing mobile service to their six million subscribers, COAI director general T V Ramachandran said.
DoT had earlier issued a clarification of license conditions on March 23, 2005 stating that for a service to be fixed, it had to be restricted within subscriber's premises.
The clarification also stated that if this restriction could not be imposed, the service would be treated as WLL (M)", it said.
Referring to the fixed wireless services of the Tatas, COAI said in respect of Tata Walky Services, DoT had submitted before TDSAT that Walky, which was supposed to be fixed, was actually a limited mobile service which was being offered in breach of terms and conditions of licence.