TRAI established that 3G Roaming Agreements between Telcos violated Licence Conditions

A probe by telecom regulator TRAI established that 3G roaming agreements between telcos violated licence conditions.

Mobile phone companies had earlier explained to the regulator that the telecom department, prior to the 3G auctions, had clearly specified that roaming policy is applicable to licences and not specific to spectrum bands.
In their defence, telcos had also provided copies of the clarifications provided by the department on this issue before the 3G auctions. The clarifications quote the DoT's response to operators' queries on this issue as stating that roaming will be permitted.

The DoT had asked the regulator to examine the 3G roaming agreements between telcos. With no telco bagging pan-India 3G airwaves in 2010 auctions, the leading GSM operators - Bharti Airtel, Vodafone Essar and Idea Cellular had entered into an alliance that enables them to offer high-end data services on a pan-India basis (except Orissa). Bharti, Vodafone and Idea had won 3G airwaves in 13, 9 and 11 circles, respectively, and their roaming pacts ensured that customers of these companies can access high-speed data services even in the regions where they don't hold 3G airwaves.

The GSM operators had informed TRAI that 3G roaming agreements would augment the customer experience by allowing users to access high-speed data services on a pan-India basis, while also ensuring better utilisation of national resources and increased revenues to the government. Besides, they also added that these deals would help improve broadband internet coverage.

If the government acts on the recommendations of the TERM Cell of the DoT, these mobile phone companies will have to shell out fines to the tune of 50 crore for every circle where they have entered into 3G roaming agreements.