Regulator bound by rules, can’t recommend penalty changes in interconnect case: Trai official

New Delhi: The telecom regulator is not in a position to modify its previously recommended penalty on Vodafone India and Idea CellularNSE 0.85 % (now merged) and Bharti AirtelNSE -0.59 % as it is bound by the provisions of Trai Act, according to a senior Trai official. Citing the clauses in the Act, the regulator recently informed the Department of Telecom (DoT) that it is “constrained from offering any further comments” on the matter and the Centre now has to take a final call on the issue.

The regulator has already given its views once in response to a back reference in 2017 by DoT, the Trai official said adding that as per the provisions in the Act there is no scope for any further modification.