Trai to smoke out ‘cartels’

The DoT-versus-regulator wars reopened today after a brief calm. Trai said that it would await an official order from the Department of Tele...

The DoT-versus-regulator wars reopened today after a brief calm. Trai said that it would await an official order from the Department of Telecom (DoT) before it considers an action plan against telecom cartels. ‘‘The regulator’s job is to increase competition, and it has done that. Before considering action, we must be informed about anti-competitive behaviour,’’ Trai Chairman Pradip Baijal said.

In a sign of apparent conciliation, Baijal said government, as policy maker, is ‘‘supreme authority’’ and can supercede Trai’s mandate if it wished to. ‘‘Under Section 25 of Trai Act, government can issue directives and regulator will have to comply. Government is the ultimate authority,’’ he said.

Though a directive to Trai may make DoT appear overbearing, Telecom Minister Dayanidhi Maran did say that the regulator was not keeping an eye on telecom cartels. He had also said that Reliance Infocomm, VSNL and Bharti’s bid for Rs 2,800-crore compensation was an instance of cartelisation against competition in national long distance segment. Maran said he opposed the demand.

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The three operators have made these representations before Trai, though Baijal said today that it would consider the demands, after finding out ‘‘if we (Trai) have the powers to look at policy issues that have not been referred to us (by government).’’

The Trai Chairman pointed out that appeals against Trai’s decisions lie with the telecom tribunal Tdsat.