The Hindu : Business : VSNL shoots off letter to TRAI, FLAG

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Dec 24, 2004

Business

Business

VSNL shoots off letter to TRAI, FLAG

MUMBAI, DEC. 23. In a move that could further escalate the ongoing bandwidth tussle between Videsh Sanchar Nigam Ltd. and Reliance-owned FLAG Telecom, the Tata group has alleged that the latter is planning to cut FLAG Europe Asia (FEA) cable ``unlawfully'' and divert it to Reliance's landing station in Mumbai.

VSNL, in a letter to the FLAG Telecom Chief Operating Officer (COO), Ed McCormack, expressed concerns that "FLAG is actively planning to cut FEA cable unlawfully, slicing it into a new FLAG-owned cable and to land it at a Reliance-owned landing station in Mumbai.''

"VSNL is deeply concerned at any such unilateral, unlawful behaviour by FLAG,'' quotes the letter, a copy of which is in possession of PTI.

The letter, which was also been sent to chairmen of the Telecom Commission and the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), seeks an "immediate and unqualified confirmation that no such arbitrary action (cutting the cable in mid-sea and diverting it to Reliance landing station) is planned or will take place.''

VSNL in the letter said, "Declining to identify detailed physical and logical steps proposed for integration of FALCON cable with FEA cable, heightens our concerns about your intentions.''

FALCON is a newly proposed cable by the Reliance Group, which would have two landing stations — Mumbai and Chennai — in India, with a terrestrial network between the cities over Reliance Infocomm's network.

However, when contacted, VSNL spokesperson refused to comment on the issue stating, "we have brought up our concerns at the appropriate platform.''

The letter also makes references to an earlier written communication "concerning FLAG's intentions and plans to integrate FALCON cable with FEA cable.''

PTI

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