New Delhi: Arguing against permission to fixed operators to provide wireless in local loop (WLL) mobility services, the cellular operators on November 20 contended before the Supreme Court that offering any kind of mobile services was in their exclusive domain.

This was stated during the final arguments being heard by the apex court before which a bunch of petitions were filed by cellular operators challenging the Centre's decision to allow basic telephone providers to offer limited mobility services.

Appearing on behalf of the Cellular Operators' Association of India (COAI), P Chidambaram submitted before a Bench comprising chief justice G B Pattanaik, justice H K Sema and justice S B Sinha that three access providers - cellular mobile, fixed and cable - were separate water-tight compartments, and mobile services were reserved for cellular operators.

He said that cellular operators had no problem with WLL itself, if it was used for last mile connectivity, but when it was used for mobility in the "short distance charging area", then it tantamount to encroaching on the domain of cellular operators.

Chidambaram pointed out to the Bench that while WLL was application of technology, WLL (mobility) was a provision of service.

PTI