COAI urges TRAI to withdraw consultation on unified licensing

Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) today sought clarifications from the TRAI on its consultations on the unified license regime ...

Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) today sought clarifications from the TRAI on its consultations on the unified license regime at a time when the issue of whether the WLL mobile was a legal service or not is a matter which is subjudice. The COAI called upon the TRAI to withdraw the consultation process till the litigations in the issue were settled.

‘‘Keeping in view the highest standards of regulatory governance, the Authority may find it appropriate to withdraw its consultation paper until such time as free and fair statutory dispute resolution process, that is already underway, is completed,’’ COAI said in a

letter to TRAI.

The association also sought clarifications from TRAI on a report that indicated TRAI’s “predetermined mind” on the issue of unified licensing.

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In a letter to TRAI chairman Pradip Baijal, COAI Director General T V Ramachandran said the regulator, which is a key respondent in the litigation pending before TDSAT, cannot decide the matter before the competent Authority has pronounced the judgement on the same.

“Several other articles also speak about the authority’s declared preference for a unified license, rather than a neutral position, which would usually be the norm at this very early stage of regulatory consultation,” COAI alleged.

This is COAI’s second letter in two days raising concerns over TRAI’s move to initiate process on unified licensing regime and give recommendations on terms and conditions to the government.

COAI has stated that it has obtained a copy of the UBS report and said it found that the report raised several issues, of which some deeply concerned and worried the cellular industry; one of those issues is TRAI’s desire to reduce the level of competition. “However, it is the comment regarding introduction of universal licenses, notwithstanding the TDSAT decision, that is most worrying.