Indian telco Reliance Communications (RCOM) has been ordered to pay Rs680m to state-owned telco BSNL after a dispute over access deficit charges (ADCs).
India’s Telecom Disputes Settlement & Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) ruled on 15 February that RCOM…
Indian telco Reliance Communications (RCOM) has been ordered to pay Rs680m to state-owned telco BSNL after a dispute over access deficit charges (ADCs).
India’s Telecom Disputes Settlement & Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) ruled on 15 February that RCOM should pay back the whole principal amount as well as the interest within one week. The deadline falls today.
In return, BSNL was restrained from disconnecting Reliance Communications’ point of interconnect (POI), and to restore those POIs that had been disconnected.
According to the Indian newspaper Business Standard, BSNL had filed a demand note with TDSAT for RCOM to pay ADCs plus interest in two areas, Uttar-Pradesh West and Orissa. The total amount demanded was reportedly Rs680m.
ADCs are a levy that operators must pay to the Indian government, specifically for public sector work in rural or remote areas. POIs are necessary for customers to be able to call between networks.
BSNL had reportedly threatened to disconnect RCOM’s POIs if it failed to pay.
RCOM is part of the Reliance-ADA group, which is headed by billionaire Anil Ambani.
