Dispute over Telecom Regulator's power regarding interconnectivity agreements between telecom operators reached the Supreme Court, which admitted TRAI's petition challenging Telecom Appellate Tribunal's order severely restricting its jurisidiction on this issue.
A vacation Bench comprising Justice P V Reddi and Justice Arijit Pasayat issued notice to Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd, on whose petition the Telecom Disputes Settlement
Appellate Tribunal had ruled that TRAI had no power to interfere with interconnectivity offers of telecom operators and the agreements signed between two operators on this issue.
The Bench also issued notice to BSNL on TRAI's application seeking stay of the April 27 orders of TDSAT and asked BSNL to file its reply within four weeks. The application seeking interim orders would come up for hearing after the reopening of the courts after summer vacation.
TRAI said to promote expeditious and effective interconnection, which was of vital importance to telecom sector, it had exercised jurisidiction to suggest and direct incorporation of changes in the interconnection agreements as the dominant service providers always wanted to dictate terms over the small service providers on this issue.
As per TRAI provisions, service providers with significant market share were required to publish their Reference Interconnect Offer within 90 days of the issue of regulation with prior approval of the TRAI.
BSNL had challenged before TDSAT the suggestions made by TRAI for incorporation in its RIO saying TRAI did not have the power to prescribe terms and conditions of interconnectivity.