Government claims Airtel, Idea, Vodafone 3G roaming agreements are illegal

[moindear]

Bad news for me. Airtel does not have 3G license in AP.
Its just too bad
But who will pay such high prices for 3G recharges when they dont even have roaming option...

 

[Sushubh]

the most ironical thing is that... the government wants to kill the concept of roaming. right?
so on one hand they want roaming charges to go so that there are no circles at all. and on the other hand they want to restrict these operators from offering their services in roaming.
--
Officially airtel does not offer 3G on roaming (on your existing plan).

 

[moindear]

I think they dont mind even contradicting as long as they get bucketful of money!

 

[Sushubh]

also. they have been asked to stop services in circles they do not have the rights in. airtel can offer 3G on roaming in circles they have rights for.
indian government is like Apple. they are happy as long as they are the ones getting paid for everything.
they do not care if their customers (citizens) are happy.

 

[Jignesh]

Good.

Airtel drags DoT to court on 3G roaminghttp://www.thehindubusinessline.com/industry-and-economy/info-tech/airtel-drags-dot-to-court-on-3g-roaming/article4512940.ece?homepage=true&ref=wl_home

Bad news for me. Airtel does not have 3G license in AP.
Its just too bad
But who will pay such high prices for 3G recharges when they dont even have roaming option...

They do have 3G license in AP

 

[Sushubh]

i am not sure if courts can do much about it. from what i have read, telecom operators claim that dot had told them that they would be allowed to have roaming agreements verbally. there is nothing written in the deals signed up during spectrum sale.
maybe the courts would kill the DOT's instructions in the name of 'for the good of the consumer' but i really do not see that happening. but then.. too much money is involved (350 crore rupee penalty!)... so telecom companies can probably get a ruling in their favor.

 

[Technoholic]

Is anybody concerned about consumers? I honestly think it would have been impossible for telecom operators to lower 3G rates and offer 3G data packs from as low as 9 Rs without these roaming agreements. Reserve price for 3G was insanely high and there were only 3-4 slots per circle. Companies have paid thousands of crores just to get spectrum let alone cost of infrastructure and rolling out services. These roaming pacts, so far have proven to be really been good for consumers. I would have to switch my operator (Airtel MH) for 3G if this ruling comes into effect. ffended:

 

[Sushubh]

courts sometimes do the unexpected sadly, this government does not give a shite about court's rulings as well (vodafone tax evasion case).

 

[Navjot Singh]

Airtel Challenges The Order In Delhi High Court
This thread should be merged with this.

 

[Sushubh]

Merging is a mess on IPB. One of the two links becomes 404.