Restore SMS services to Aircel, SC asks airtel

The apex court on Monday ordered Bharti Airtel to restore SMS services to Aircel within 24 hours. The order comes after Aircel agreed to pay termination charge of 10 paise per SMS to the Airtel.

'We direct the respondent (Airtel) to reconnect the SMS services to the appellants (Aircel) within 24 hours. This would be subject to the condition that within two weeks from Monday the appellants shall pay the arrears to the respondent in terms of demand letter dated October 25 and also pay at the rate of 10 paise per SMS from the date of reconnection of SMS services,' said a bench headed by Justice G S Singhvi.

Aircel had challenged the September 24, 2012 order of the TDSAT in Supreme Court. The telecom tribunal had earlier rejected the pleas of Aircel on this issue.

The apex court, however, made it clear that the payment to be made by the appellants to the respondent would remain subject to final adjudication of the appeal.

SMS termination charges have been a contentious issue between new players and established players. Tata Teleservices has also appealed against Bharti Telecom's decision to charge 10 paise per SMS termination.

SMS termination charges are paid to the operator on whose network the SMSes or calls terminate by an operator from whose network those originate.