The Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal ( TDSAT) in its interim order has ordered Vodafone to restore SMS service on Aircel network while directing the latter to pay 5 paise per SMS to Vodafone as termination fee till the matter is resolved.The tribunal asked Vodafone to respond to Aircel's plea within three weeks while giving two.

"There is a need to examine whether the rates of termination charges demanded by the respondent (Vodafone) are in accordance with the regulation and whether such charges are transparent, reciprocal and nondiscriminatory," it said.

Aircel had objected to the payment of Rs 40 crore demanded by Vodafone in October following which the latter had also disconnected the SMS service in 5 circles.

Termination charges are paid by an operator from whose network calls or SMS originate to the one on whose network these communications end.