TTSL hits out at RCom over 2G Dual Technology licence

New Delhi, Feb 14 (PTI) Tata Teleservices today hit outat Anil Ambani group firm RCom for comparing itself on theissue of gettiing 2G Dual Technology licences.

Apparently replying to RCom''s statement yesterday, TTSLsaid that it was unfair to compare as RCom and other twooperators got the Dual Technology licences even before thepolicy was announced in 2007.

RCom had said that its application was "on identicalterms and payment of identical fees as the three othercompanies -- Shri Ratan Tata group''s Tata Teleservices,Himachal Futuristic Communications and Shyam Telecom (nowknown as Sistema) -- and there is nothing special or untowardin the same."

TTSL''s statement came in response to RCom''s claim that ithad to wait since February 2006 for more than 18 months to getthe dual technology (GSM and CDMA) licence.

TTSL said that it "was the only operator, amongst thosenamed above, to apply for Dual-Technology Licence after the 19October 2007 announcement by the DoT and it is hence unfairand incorrect to compare TTSL with the other applicants, whohad applied before the policy was announced."

"It is indeed special and intriguing that RCom and twoother operators applied and got DoT approval even before thepolicy was announced," it added.

TTSL said that while RCom was allotted spectrum in allthe circles immediately in January 2008, TTSL got DoT approvalafter 83 days.

"TTSL, even after three years, is still awaiting spectrumallocation in the crucial Delhi Circle and in 39 commerciallycrucial districts in 9 telecom circles," it said.

The grant of dual technology approval to RCom in October,2007, has been upheld by the Delhi High Court by a judgementin August, 2008, and by the Telecom Tribunal, TDSAT, by anorder in March, 2009.

The CAG had pointed out that the DoT favoured RCom injumping the queue for grant of GSM spectrum ahead of others.

Over the past several weeks, as part of investigationspursuant to the Supreme Court''s orders, the CBI is reportedlyexamining a large number of telecom firms and their officials,from across the entire telecom industry in relation to variousmatters from 2001 to 2008.

TTSL also clarified that the company and the Tata Groupwere not family-owned or family-run concerns or owned by RatanTata.

"Hence, to refer to them as ''Shri Ratan Tata group''s TataTeleservices Limited'' is not appropriate," it added.