TRAI: Termination of 3G-roaming agreement is inevitable

According to Times of India, Telecom Department may terminate the licence of the mobile companies like Airtel, Vodafone, Aircel and Idea to provide high-speed data access (3G) to their customers out of their spectrum.

It means if you are in Kolkota on roaming and Kolkata doesn’t come under the 3G spectrum of your service provider then you won’t get the high-speed data access in that city. At present all these companies airtel, aircel, idea and many other are providing these services via 3G airwaves. If today you moved to any others network then also you will get the 3G network. But if TRAI terminates this services then in future you won’t be able to avail these services.

This move could impact users' ability to make video calls on roaming networks. This problem is not there in the 2G services, because customers do not get 2G services out of station.

The final verdict depends on the Law Ministry, as DoT is waiting for its clearance to issue the termination notices to these companies. The CEO and high officials of Aircel, Airtel, Idea and Vodafone have some different takes on this issue. They claim that the 3G airwaves service is “legal and permissible” under the 3G auction agreement. The CEO’s of these companies together sent a joint letter to the communication minister Kapil Sibal stating that the government and the mobile industry had clear understating of this service while going through the 3G auction.

TRAI has also written to the government that “prima facie comes to the conclusion that 3G roaming is violating the terms and conditions of the licence”.