AUSPI asks DoT to reject COAI's plea on Tata Teleservices

Alleging distortion of facts by COAI, AUSPI has asked the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) to reject the rival association's plea to take back spectrum from Tata Teleservices in 18 service areas.

The Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), representing GSM players, had written to DoT asking it to withdraw spectrum allocated to Tata Teleservices Ltd (TTSL) in 18 service areas and put them up for auction.

Association of Unified Telecom Service Providers of India (AUSPI), which represents dual technology players such as TTSL, Reliance Communications and Sistema Shyam Teleservices, asked the DoT to reject the plea.

"COAI is distorting facts and attempting to present a misleading picture before the DoT to sub-serve the vested interests of its members. It is an attempt to cause confusion and is clearly uncalled for when the Hon ble Supreme Court has rejected their plea," AUSPI Secretary General Ashok Sud said in a letter to the DoT.

On its demand for surrender of TTSL spectrum, COAI in its letter had cited legal opinion of former Solicitor General Rohinton Nariman.

"The allocation of spectrum of TTSL stood quashed by way of order dated 02-02-2012. As a result thereof, the said spectrum automatically stood reverted," Nariman's opinion attached with the COAI letter had said.

However, AUSPI said the legal opinion given by Nariman was in his capacity as a senior advocate.

"DoT is requested not to take any cognizance of such a legal opinion," the letter said.