New Delhi: Virtually admitting failure to resolve the fight between the cellular and basic operators on the controversial limited mobile (WLL) services by the latter, government on March 13 said the issue would now be pursued at the appellate authority.

In what could be a major setback to the Communication Minister Arun Shourie's initiative for a negotiated settlement at a group comprising government representatives and industry leaders including Mukesh Ambani of Reliance and Sunil Mittal of Bharati, Telecom Secretary Vinod Vaish told reporters that "there is no agreement or understanding on WLL".

Although talks were held once again, neither Ambani nor Mittal were present at the meeting and were represented only by their company officials.

As there was no understanding on WLL (Wireless in Local Loop), an issue that saw basic and cellular operators fighting a bitter battle both inside and outside courts, the matter would now proceed to the Telecom Dispute Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT), Vaish said.

TDSAT had adjourned in February the hearing on WLL issue to enable the two sides reach an out of the court settlement in the wake of constitution of the telecom group by Shourie soon after he took charge of the ministry.

Cellular operators had questioned the WLL services of the basic service providers and objected to the go-ahead given by the government for this on the ground that it was infringing on their cellular and mobile services for which they were paying licence fees and sharing revenue.

PTI