COAI Wants Neutral Agency To Fix Entry Fees For WLL-M

New Delhi: Cellular operators have called for appointment of an independent agency to suggest the entry fees that basic operators should pay for providing wireless in local loop mobile (WLL-M) service. They have demanded compensation for the adverse impact on their businesses due to introduction of WLL-M services. In its reply to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) consultation paper on Telecom Disputes Settlement & Appellate Tribunal order, the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) has said that the fourth cellular licence fees should be taken as the basis for calculating the entry fee for WLL-M services. It has asked Trai to charge entry fee with retrospective effect from 2001. 

For spectrum allocation, COAI has asked Trai to consider the fact that code division multiple access (CDMA) is a more spectrum-efficient technology as compared to global system for mobile communications (GSM). It has also asked the government to keep the spectrum charges at 2 per cent of revenues. While cellular operators provide services based on GSM standard, basic operators provide services based on

CDMA. 

It has also demanded that cellular operators be allowed to provide interconnection at short distance charging area level. COAI has said that the increased retention charge should be provided to the cellular operators immediately for around a year's period ranging from 25 January, 2001 to 30 January, 2002. 

It has pointed out that its response should not be taken as an endorsement of the government's decision to permit basic operators to offer WLL-M services. "Our response to the consultation paper is on clear assumption...that WLL-M will be offered only strictly within the parameters ..laid down by the Tribunal, " it says.