The Hindu Business Line : You still can't choose your STD-ISD operator

WITH telecom biggies - Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL), Videsh Sanchar Nigam Ltd, Bharti and Reliance - vying with each other for a share of the long distance pie, the customer may be elated at the falling STD and ISD tariffs.

However, in all the hype that is being generated over the past few months, what has been overlooked is the fact that he still has no choice in terms of selecting the telecom network through which he wishes to route his long distance calls.

Although close to seven months ago, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) had issued a directive to all basic and cellular operators to modify their networks to enable the subscribers to pick the STD and ISD operators of their choice, not a single service provider has as yet brought this into force.

In other words, if a subscriber of BSNL or AirTel wants to make an STD or ISD call, he is tied down to his operator's selection, something that is not meant to be.

The Authority had stipulated that for STD calls, the basic and cellular operators should introduce carrier access codes (CAC), the code number that enables users to select the long-distance voice carrier of their choice, between three months and 18 months depending on the areas they operate in.

The TRAI had also asked them to introduce a `Carrier Pre-Selection' (CPS) system within a time frame of six to nine months. In the case of international calls, it mandated that the cellular operators needed to introduce the CAC as well as CPS in six months.

For basic operators, TRAI had allowed 18 months for implementing both the systems. The directive went a step further and noted that in all cases of long distance calling, in which the subscriber has not pre-selected his carrier and has also failed to dial the CAC, the calls should be routed by the access providers to a recorded announcement requesting him to do so.

According to industry sources, although the TRAI deadlines have passed in most cases, no operator is willing to introduce this.

BSNL has argued that it is operating a legacy network and needs more time to modify the networks.

As a result, even though the private operators are ready with the updated networks, they are reluctant to give this choice to their customers.

"Why should the subscribers of BSNL and MTNL be denied the choice, while those of private operators have the freedom to do so. there is still the question of the costs that have to be shared between the operators for upgrading the networks. The Authority has stated that the long distance operators will have to pay the necessary set-up cost of CAC and CPS to the access providers in whose networks the required changes are to be made. Something which the private operators are reluctant to do for cash-rich BSNL and MTNL," they said.

They noted that having realised the practical difficulties in implementing the decision, the TRAI has now extended the deadlines by close to a year. For the customer who wants to choose his STD and ISD operators, it only means a further wait until 2004.

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