BSNL, private telcos lock horns over shift to IP based interconnection

Private telecom operators including Bharti Airtel, Jio, and Vodafone Idea are on a standoff with state-owned Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) over who should bear the cost of transitioning interconnection framework away from legacy networks.

Efficiency vs. Legacy

While private telcos have urged the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) to mandate a shift to Licensed Service Areas (LSA) level, IP-based interconnection, BSNL said it has invested heavily in LongDistance Charging Area (LDCA) level infrastructure over the years.