INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Vodafone Idea for not providing points of interconnection to Reliance Industries' telecom unit, Jio, when it began operations in 2016, media
Plc's India unit and Idea Cellular, saying the three denied points of interconnection to Jio, a move it termed as anti-consumer and aimed
at stifling competition.The Digital Communications Commission on Wednesday backed the telecom regulator's recommendations, media quoted
Aruna Sundarajan, the panel chair and the top official in the Department of Telecom (DoT), as saying.Both Vodafone Idea and Bharti
criticised the decision."This issue pertaining to points of interconnection has been examined by the DoT, various parliamentary and judicial
authorities with no case for any default established," Vodafone Idea, India's biggest wireless carrier said in a statement, adding, it
will "explore all options, including seeking legal recourse" to protect company interests.A spokesman for Bharti said the company was
"extremely disappointed" and the decision would further burden the high stress in the telecom sector.Bharti will approach the "appropriate
forum" and has complete faith in the country's judicial process, the company's spokesman added.Reliance Jio, built at a cost of over $30
billion by India's richest man Mukesh Ambani, offered free services for months after its launch
That forced its three rivals - Bharti, Vodafone and Idea - to cut prices and accept lower profits as well as sparking a wave of
consolidation in the sector.Get Breaking news, live coverage, and Latest News from India and around the world on TheIndianSubcontinent.com
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