NEW DELHI, OCT 2: Private cellphone operators today welcomed the entry of Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd (MTNL) which launched its service in Delhi today. Speaking to The Indian Express, Sunil Mittal, chairman of the Bharti group which runs the Airtel cellphone service in Delhi, said that the government's statement last night that the MTNL's entry into cellular services would be on the same terms and conditions that private operators have been given, was an endorsement of the industry's demand. ``On the same level playing field, we have no problems in welcoming MTNL as our competitor,'' Mittal said.Anticipating trouble from private operators in Delhi and Mumbai - Airtel, Essar, Max and BPL - MTNL had filed caveats in the high courts in both the cities as well as the Supreme Court. However, Sunil Mittal allayed these fears saying that on these terms and conditions, they would not attempt approaching courts as they were `satisfied' with the Government's assurance.Mittal's feelings were echoed by TV Ramachandran, secretary-general of the Cellular Operators' Association of India. He said that the Government's statement safeguarding the interests of the operators by providing a level playing field had allayed fears of the industry. He said that under the circumstances, neutrality of technology would benefit all.The cellphone operators' euphoria is surprising as none of the earlier concerns expressed by them, regarding the strengthening of the Regulator which is essential if the fundamentals of a level playing field have to be maintained in the long run, have been met. The issuing of the licence to MTNL without the recommendations of the TRAI as well as the fact that MTNL decided to commercially launch its service without awaiting the TRAI clearance will clearly undermine the jurisdiction of the TRAI - a matter which is still pending in the courts.While the Government has questioned the jurisdiction of the TRAI on licensing issues, this time around, even their jurisdiction on tariff matters standsquestioned. Defenders of this action by MTNL within the Government say that this had become inevitable on account of the delay by the TRAI in clearing MTNL's service which would have affected its GDR issue scheduled for next month. The TRAI had announced that it would come out with a consultation paper to address the various concerns that operators and consumers could have.Scramble for MTNL phone in DelhiNEW DELHI: Gandhi Jayanti on Saturday saw a totally different kind of gathering at the Lodhi Road telephone exchange in New Delhi. Flashing wads of cash and even bank drafts thousands of Delhites shoved, jostled and lunged for the prize - a limited coverage mobile phone of Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd. And MTNL responded in time honoured fashion. It panicked at the site of the crowds, ran out of forms, failed to give proper information and then finally called the police. The drama started at 10'o clock in the morning and the 9000 connections on offer would most probably have been exhausted, hadit not been for a bank holiday. But there was a catch, MTNL had activated only 500 handsets and stopped giving out forms even though people kept on arriving throughout the day. The forms were probably the most prized possession on Saturday for the gathering of thousands. One enterprising fellow saw opportunity and sold the Rs 10 form for Rs 300 to a much harried gentleman. At the end of a long day, only 1000 forms were issued and only 50 handsets were given to proud, but much harried customers.
