Idea Cellular has filed a petition with the Telecom Disputes Settlement Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) alleging that the Indian Telecom regulator TRAI took no action against new entrant Reliance for violating regulations on promotional offers, reports Economic Times. Idea’s petition comes just days after Airtel filed a similar appeal with the TDSAT alleging that TRAI was “perpetuating illegality” by allowing Jio to “game” the interconnection regulation with its free calls and data offer. According to the new report, Idea has termed TRAI as a “mute spectator” to Jio’s violation of the regulator’s own rule that a promo offer cannot be extended over a period of 90 days. Both Idea and Airtel contends that Jio should have discontinued its promo offer on December 3rd, which equates to 90 days. Airtel had earlier requested the special tribunal to quash TRAI’s October 20th 2016 ruling which said that tariffs and promo offers being offered by Jio were complaint with current regulations. TDAST will hear Airtel’s petition on February 1st. TRAI on the other had earlier requested additional time to examine Jio’s promo offer that is extended up till March 2017, without responding to Airtel’s comments. Jio’s CCI plea, and the Interconnection issue Note that Reliance Jio has another legal combat going on with operators including Airtel, Idea and Vodafone. In November, the Mukesh Ambani owned telco filed a complaint with the Competition Commission of India (CCI) claiming that Airtel, Idea, and Vodafone have formed a cartel to restrict its operations by denying interconnection points. During Reliance Industries’…
