The Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal has on Monday asked the state owned telco BSNL not to charge any amount in excess of 15 paise per minute towards inter-circle transit charge till such time that Trai notifies the new Interconnection Usage Charges Regulations (IUC).

The tribunal gave the ruling in response to the number of petitions filed by Tata Teleservices, Reliance Communications and Sistema Shyam Teleservices. BSNL from charging higher carriage charges of 65 paise a minute from these operators.

“65 paise per minute per call was subject to a ceiling and not a fixed sum, it required negotiations between the parties” , it said.

TDSAT set aside the bills raised by BSNLpreventing it from charging higher carriage charges of 65 paise a minute. It asked BSNL not to go ahead with this till TRAI comes out with new rules or the Supreme Court passes an order in this matter. 

“This order shall be subject to any other or further order which may be passed by the Supreme Court of India or any Regulation that may be made by the telecom regulator (TRAI).” , TDSAT said.