Indian operators told to end roaming agreement

India’s Department of Telecommunications (DoT) will order mobile operators Bharti Airtel, Idea and Vodafone to end their roaming pact, according to local media reports.

The three operators had entered into an agreement with one another to offer 3G mobile services in India’s circles, or districts, in which they had failed to acquire spectrum in the country’s auction, when it was held last year. The Telecoms Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), Law Ministry and DoT have now all agreed that the operators’ roaming agreement is in violation of their telecom licences.

Tata Teleservices and Aircel, had also entered into similar agreements in six of India’s circles, but have already discontinued the arrangement.

“The decision has been taken that this (3G roaming pact) is in violation of terms and conditions of the licence. We will be issuing notices asking these operators to stop their service with immediate effect. But on penalty, no decision has been taken yet,” telecom secretary R Chandrasekhar told Indian news agency PTI.