BSNL wants Idea to sign fresh interconnect agreement

Idea customers may face coverage disruptions in the future if the third-largest mobile carrier in the country does not ink a fresh interconnection pact with state-run Bharat Sanchar Nigam (BSNL) in the seven regions where it was issued unified permits in October last year.

BSNL has sought DoT's intervention to prevail upon Idea to sign a fresh interconnect pact with it in Assam, J&K, Northeast, Kolkata, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu (including Chennai) and Odisha circles where the Aditya Birla group firm was issued fresh unified licences after its earlier operating permits in these markets were quashed in the 2G case.

Idea's 2G permits in these service areas were among the 122 licences quashed by the Supreme Court in the 2G spectrum scam. Subsequently, in the November 2012 airwaves sale, the company won back 2G spectrum in all these seven circles. It was eventually issued unified licences in these regions by the DoT on October 11 last year.

Accordingly, BSNL wants Idea CellularBSE 0.60 % to ink a fresh interconnect pact and also clear "provisioning charges" at the earliest to ensure uninterrupted mobile coverage in these regions. In a letter to the DoT, a copy of which was seen by ET, BSNL said Idea had not heeded "its reminders" for inking "such an interconnect agreement" even though "more than eight months had passed" since it was granted new unified licences in these seven circles.

BSNL chairman and managing director AN Rai did not reply to emailed queries on whether a deadline had been set for Idea Cellular to sign a new interconnect pact and clear provisioning charges.

Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL)