Tata Tele to launch in-country calling cards
Tata Teleservices is understood to be planning to launch in-country calling card service and is awaiting a National Long Distance licence it has applied for to the government.
By PTI |
NEW DELHI: Tata Teleservices is understood to be planning to launch in-country calling card service and is awaiting a National Long Distance licence it has applied for to the government.
The in-country calling card service would be launched within a month of receiving the Long Distance license, awaiting approval with Department of Telecommunications (DoT).
The, company, however would not be investing in laying its optic backbone and would lease bulk bandwidth & equipment from its sister concern Videsh Sanchar Nigam Limited, sources said.
Tata Tele currently uses NLD network of VSNL, which also holds close to 16 per cent equity stake in the Tata Groups CDMA venture.
Receiving the NLD licence would be a major windfall for Tata Teleservices as it would add another product to their bouquet the company can retail through its existing retail chain, sources said, adding that however it is likely to have an impact on VSNL's NLD revenues which may move from a "per call minute" basis to a "flat lumpsum" annual charges for leasing a part of the company's NLD infrastructure.
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However, VSNL would gain by leasing or selling its Callin card Intelligent Network (IN) Platform which has been rendered useless ever since the DoT said VSNL's Tata Indicom Calling Card service was in breach of the terms of NLD license conditions. VSNL's Calling Card service was being offered to the subscribers of Tata Teleservices.However, VSNL appealed to TDSAT in early 2005 which were recently quashed by the tribunal upholding DoT's opinion.
The DoT view of direct access to subscribers in breach of NLD license and denying the security agencies from intercepting such calls which is a security hazard was upheld by the TDSAT.
According to DoT sources, Tata Teleservices NLD application has been sent back to the company asking for more clarifications on the mandatory security monitoring equipment.
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