Airtel Threatens To Block All BSNL Calls: Here’s The Reason Why

Airtel and BSNL have involved themselves into a bitter battle.. And the victims here would be common users like you and me.

Airtel has threatened to disconnect all BSNL calls on their network, and in return, BSNL has approached Department of Telecom to stop this.

What is the exact reason here?

Airtel: We Will Disconnect All BSNL Calls

At the start of this week, Airtel shot a letter to BSNL, in which they have threatened to disconnect all calls coming in or going to BSNL network.

In case Airtel actually implements this, then no call from BSNL can be made to Airtel, and Airtel users cannot receive any call from BSNL numbers.

This will potentially impact millions of users, from both Airtel and BSNL.

BSNL has asked DoT to intervene in this matter, and in their letter, they have sought “guidance from DoT since the interest of the company and its customers is at stake”

The Reason For Airtel’s Threat To BSNL

The reason is Airtel and Tata Teleservices merger.

In July this year, Airtel and Tata Teleservices merged into one entity. However, due to a pending due of Rs 8300 crore, Department of Telecom hasn’t yet approved this merger.

The dues are related with one-time spectrum charges (OTSC). After Airtel paid a partial amount related with Chennai circle’s spectrum charges, the merger was approved by The Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT), in May.

However, Department of Telecom contested this judgment, and this month, they moved to Supreme Court, in order to pressurize Airtel for paying the remaining dues.

BSNL has approached DoT, and asked them to stop Airtel from blocking their calls. In their letter, BSNL stated, “Airtel has threatened that any failure of calls of BSNL customers out of non-implementation of necessary routing changes shall be the sole responsibility of BSNL,”

But Why Threat To BSNL?

Airtel has resorted to this threat so that BSNL can treat the consumer mobility business of Airtel and Tata Teleservices as a merged entity.

Tata Teleservices was using BSNL’s towers, as part of a 2009 deal, which extended till 15 years. Now, as a merged entity, Airtel is supposed to carry forward this deal of using BSNL’s towers, but it seems due to DoT’s objection, they are not able to.

Officially, the reason why Airtel has threatened BSNL, and not directly approached DoT regarding the recognition of this merger, is not yet out.

We will keep you updated, as more details come in.