The telecom disputes settlement appellate tribunal (TDSAT) on Friday deferred by 10 weeks its hearing on the use of mobile switching centre (MSC) in WLL (wireless in local loop). The MSC is an interface used by cellular operators to switch over to long distance system and the interface currently used by basic operators is V5.2. The use of the MSC technology will make both the systems similar.The tribunal delayed its decision in view of the fact that Reliance Infocomm Ltd and Tata Teleservices Ltd have been recently made parties to the suit filed by the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) and the tribunal said they should be given a chance to file their affidavits. As such both the companies have been directed to file their affidavits within six weeks.The major grievance of the cellular operators is that if the fixed service providers are permitted to use MSC architecture to provide limited mobility service under their FSP licence, the difference between full mobility, as provided by cellular operators and limited mobility would virtually be obliterated and this is not permissible both under their licence as as the status quo order of the tribunal passed on March 18, 2002. Basic service operators have however, deny that there is any express prohibition in their licence to use the MSC technology. It has been submitted that basic service operators like Shyam Telelink Ltd and Himachal Futuristic Communications Ltd (HFCL) have been using MSC architecture as an integral part of their licence from 1997 onwards. In fact, Tata Teleservices has also been using MSC since March 1999.
