Reliance Communications (RCom) seems to have played spoilsport in Bharti Airtel’s 3G legal battle with department of telecommunications with the Delhi High Court on Thursday lifting the stay order directing it to stop 3G services 3G roaming services in circles where it does not have licenses. 

Following the High Court’s ruling BhartiAirtel will have to stop services immediately as the 3G roaming pacts, but the company has hinted that it would take the battle ahead.

The High Court vacated the stay order on the execution of DoT’s order to stop 3G roaming services on RCom’s plea which cited the adverse impact on its business due to Airtel’s 3G roaming services.

Interestingly, RCom was part of the group of five telecom companies which appealed to the government to allow 3G roaming hoping for favorable decision from the government. But later it opposed High Court’s stay order on Airtel’s plea.

In march the HIGH Court had allowed Bharti Airtel to continue its 3G Intra-circle roaming services till its final order posting  the matter for May 8 while Airtel can keep the earnings from 3G services in a separate account.

On March 15, DoT had sent notice to Airtel asking it stop 3G roaming services outside its licensed zones.

Bharti Airtel, Vodafone and Idea which entered into agreement with each other for offering 3G services by using each other's airwaves, had won licenses for 13, 9 and 11 circles, respectively in 2010. These three GSM operators then entered into agreement with each other for offering 3G services by using each other's airwaves.

In December 2011 the government had had declared 3G roaming pacts as 'illegal'. Following this show-cause notices were sent to these operators asking  to stop 3G services.

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