Interconnection on mutual terms, says TRAI

New Delhi, Nov 03: Telecom regulator TRAI has said that interconnection has to be provided on mutually negotiated terms and should not be used for any restrictive agenda.

In order to ensure that the Interconnect Agreements are in compliance with the orders, directions and regulations of TRAI and licence conditions/instructions/guidelines issued by DoT, the Authority today directed all Service Providers to submit their Interconnect Agreements for registration with the Authority along with a certificate that ''It is certified that the Interconnect Agreement submitted herewith complies with all the Orders, Directions and Regulations of the TRAI and it does not violate any licence condition and instruction/ guidelines issued by Department of Telecommunications (DoT).

This step will result in a check to the Service Providers for ensuring such compliance in their Interconnect Agreements.

In this context, TRAI had earlier issued ''The Register of Interconnect Agreements Regulation in August, 1999'' to facilitate inspection of Interconnection Agreements by stakeholders and to see that it is not discriminatory and does not violate any of the licence conditions.

Interconnect Agreements are bilateral agreements between the Telecom Service Providers for ensuring better access, quality of service and roaming amongst the Service Providers.

It is provided for in various telecom licenses. It is envisaged that interconnection has to be provided on mutually negotiated terms and should not be used for any restrictive agenda.

As per the provisions of this regulation, the Service Providers have to file with TRAI two copies of the Interconnection Agreements to which they are parties, duly authenticated, along with soft copy in Microsoft Word Format, within 30 days of signing of the Agreement. In compliance of TRAI's Regulation large number of Interconnect Agreements are filed with TRAI from time to time.

UNI