Vodafone v. Reliance: Jio joins TRAI in fight over interconnection charges

The Chief Justice’s bench of the Delhi High Court today heard a petition filed by Vodafone challenging Telecom Regulatory Authority of India’s Interconnect Usage Charges Regulations fixing termination charges. As per these regulations, the ICU charges for landline to wireless were removed, and wireless to wireless was reduced to 14 paise per minute..Chief Justice G. Rohini and Justice Sangita Dhingra Sehgal heard arguments from P. Chidambaram, representing Vodafone with Kapil Sibal representing Reliance Jio..Reliance Jio and Tata Teleservices opposed Vodafone’s challenge before the bench today, siding with TRAI on the issue of fixing interconnection charges..In response to the opposition by Reliance Jio, Chidambaram told the bench,.“Successful mobile network operators are at a great disadvantage here. I am not denying that my learned friends also suffer a disadvantage but they definitely suffer a smaller disadvantage than me. And for balance he thinks, he suffers a greater advantage by making me suffer.”.Vodafone in its petition has opposed the zero charge for interconnection charges receivable by the incoming mobile operator, arguing that revenue for interconnection charges must be shared under Section 11 of the TRAI Act, since significant infrastructure costs have been incurred..Chidambaram stated,.“Sharing the revenue cannot mean you keep all the revenue that is originated. Sharing by definition means that a part of revenue must be given to me.”.The bench then listed the matter for further arguments on January 9..Jio’s opposition comes soon after Mukesh Ambani’s company moved the Competition Commission of India alleging cartelization by Bharti Airtel, Vodafone and Idea Cellular. In addition, another bench of the Delhi High Court is hearing a case against TRAI’s recommendation of levying a fine of 1,050 crores against Vodafone for denying Points of Interconnection to Reliance Jio.