DoT slaps ₹3,050 crore penalty on Airtel, VIL; Airtel to approach court

Oct 1, 2021
PSX20211001134607

[ad_1]

In October 2016, TRAI had really useful imposing a complete penalty of ₹3,050 crore on Airtel, Vodafone and Concept (now merged) for allegedly denying inter-connectivity to Reliance Jio.

The Division of Telecom (DoT) has slapped a penalty of ₹2,000 crore on Vodafone Concept and ₹ 1,050 crore on Bharti Airtel primarily based on sector regulator TRAI’s advice 5 years in the past, in response to sources.

The DoT has given three weeks time to the telecom operators to pay the penalty, a supply mentioned whereas sharing the content material of the demand discover served to the businesses on Thursday.

When contacted Bharti Airtel spokesperson mentioned, “We’re deeply disenchanted with the arbitrary and unfair demand primarily based on TRAI suggestions of 2016 regarding provisions of level of interconnect to a brand new operator. These allegations had been frivolous and motivated.”

“Bharti Airtel takes satisfaction in sustaining excessive requirements of compliance and has all the time adopted the regulation of the land. We’ll problem the demand and pursue the authorized choices out there to us.”

No speedy feedback had been obtained from Vodafone Concept.

In October 2016, Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) had really useful imposing a complete penalty of ₹3,050 crore on Airtel, Vodafone and Concept (now merged) for allegedly denying inter-connectivity to Reliance Jio.

The regulator had, at the moment, stopped wanting recommending cancellation of their telecom licences saying it might result in vital client inconvenience.

TRAI’s advice had come on a criticism by Reliance Jio that over 75% of calls on its community had been failing as incumbents weren’t releasing ample numbers of factors of interface (PoIs).

The Digital Communications Fee, the telecom division’s apex decision-making physique, authorised the cumulative penalty in July 2019.


Supply- thehindu