COAI and GSM operators fined by Delhi High Court

Delhi’s High Court has imposed a INR50,000 (USD1,150) penalty on six GSM operators, Indian news source Business Standard is reporting. Players including Bharti Airtel, Vodafone Essar and Idea Cellular, as well as the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), have each been fined after the court dismissed their petition challenging the government’s decision to allow the use of dual technology for offering wireless services. This is the second time the COAI have been fined in this matter, following a ruling on 3 March 2008, when the GSM operator’s association was fined INR10,000 for filing an application with an ‘ulterior objective’ by the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT). The petition is still under consideration by the TDSAT, which is expected to commence its final hearing on 4 September.