# TATA TELESERVICES LTD v. BHARAT SANCHAR NIGAM LTD. AND ORS

- **Citation:** [2008] 7 S.C.R. 308
- **Court:** Supreme Court of India
- **Decided:** 2008-04-30
- **Case number:** Civil Appeal No. 5850 of 2005
- **Bench:** S.H. Kapadia, B. Sudershan Reddy
- **Source:** https://unisonlegal.in/judgment/supreme-court-of-india/tata-teleservices-ltd-v-bharat-sanchar-nigam-ltd-and-ors-24673
- **Pages:** 57

## Headnote

Telecommunication Interconnection Usage Charges
Regulation 2003- Access Deficit Charges (ADC)- Levy of -
c On the services which fall in the category of WLL(M) - Levy
on the services provided under 'Walky' treating the same as
WLL{M) - Pursuant to Circular by TRAI directing service
providers to comply with Premises Specific Restrictions (PSR)
and
the
directives
issued
by
Department
of
D Telecommunication (Do T) - Challenged on the ground that
the service in question has been reclassified by the Circular
of TRAI, altering the terms and conditions of the Licence under
which the service was taken; and that classification was without
authority and unilateral - Held: The services under 'Walky'
having limited mobility falls in the category of WLL(M) service
E -The service providers were providing WLL(M) services
during the relevant period in the garb of FWA WLL{F)- Hence,
Access Deficit Charges (ADC) is leviable for the relevant
period- The Circular issued by TRAI is clarificatory and not
amendatory- It has not reclassified 'Wa/ky' as WLL(M) for thf!
F first time and thus does not alter the terms and conditions of
the Unified Access Service (UAS) Licence- It was issued in
accordance with law - In view of the technology aspect and
policy framework for levy of ADC, there is no uni/ateralismG
Telecom Regulatory Authority of India Act, 1997- ss. 11 and 13.
Respondent (BSNL) demanded Access Deficit
Charges (ADC) from the appellant for the period
14.11.2004 to 26.8.05 in respect of its service provided
under its brand name 'Walky'. Appellant opposed the
H I
308
y
, _
TATA TELESERVICES LTD. v. BHARAT SANCHAR
309
NIGAM LTD. AND ORS.
--
'(
demand on the ground that 'Walky' is a fixed wireless A
phone WWL(F), having portability as its feature and hence
could not be classified as WWL(M). Appellant raised the
dispute before Telecom Disputes Settlement and
Appellate Tribunal wherein it was held that 'Walky' calls
~
attracted ADC under the regulatory regime. Hence the
B
present appeal.
Appellant contended interalia that the respondent had
no authority to impose ADC liability unilaterally on the
appellants by classifying the instrument as a mobile
phone; that the demand was misconceived as the dispute c
regarding its classification was subjudice before the
authority; that 'Walky' as an instrument is portable, not
mobile and therefore could not be classified as WWL(M);
that Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) by the
-(
Circular dated 4.3.2003 has reclassified 'Walky' as WLL(M) D
'\ j.
and thereby has amended the terms and conditions of
UAS Licence and Telecommunication Interconnection
~
Usage Charges Regulation 2003 (IUC Regulations).
'
Respondent-BSNL contended interalia that there E
was no unilateralism in the demand made by BSNL, as
the same was made only after the TRAI and the
Department of Technology (DoT) had issued the Circular
dated 4.3.2003 and Directives dated 23.3.2005 and
".
26.8.2005, respectively; that compliance of the Order/
~· >
....
Directive of DoT dated 26.8.2005 by the appellant,
F
indicates that even according to the appellants, ADC was
payable in respect of the service, i.e., WLL(M) and,
therefore, it was not correct to say that ADC could not be
charged without change in the conditions of licence or
2003 Regulations.
G
->
Dismissing the appeals, the Court
HELD 1.1 The services of the appellants vide the
instrument 'Walky' falls in the category of WLL(M) service
and, accordingly, the appellants would be liable to pay
H
310
SUPREME COURT REPORTS
[2008] 7 S.C.R.
y
~
A Access Deficit Charges (ADC) in that regard during the
relevant period ie. 14.11.2004 to 26.8.2005. [Para 49]
[364-A, B]
........
1.2 Directive dated 4.3.2005 by Telecom Regulatory
Authority of India (TRAI) was issued to all access
i'<•.r•
B
)-
providers. The said directive came to be issued as it was
brought to the notice of TRAI that new terminals were
being deployed by access providers which terminals do
not have any fixed network access point physical

## Text

_Characters 0–39,730 of 107,974. This is a partial read: ask again with offset=39730 for what follows._

A
8
[2008] 7 S.C.R. 308
TATA TELESERVICES LTD.
V.
BHARAT SANCHAR NIGAM LTD. AND ORS.
(Civil Appeal No. 5850 of 2005 etc.)
APRIL 30, 2008
[S.H. KAPADIA AND B. SUDERSHAN REDDY, JJ.]
Telecommunication Interconnection Usage Charges
Regulation 2003- Access Deficit Charges (ADC)- Levy of -
c On the services which fall in the category of WLL(M) - Levy
on the services provided under 'Walky' treating the same as
WLL{M) - Pursuant to Circular by TRAI directing service
providers to comply with Premises Specific Restrictions (PSR)
and
the
directives
issued
by
Department
of
D Telecommunication (Do T) - Challenged on the ground that
the service in question has been reclassified by the Circular
of TRAI, altering the terms and conditions of the Licence under
which the service was taken; and that classification was without
authority and unilateral - Held: The services under 'Walky'
having limited mobility falls in the category of WLL(M) service
E -The service providers were providing WLL(M) services
during the relevant period in the garb of FWA WLL{F)- Hence,
Access Deficit Charges (ADC) is leviable for the relevant
period- The Circular issued by TRAI is clarificatory and not
amendatory- It has not reclassified 'Wa/ky' as WLL(M) for thf!
F first time and thus does not alter the terms and conditions of
the Unified Access Service (UAS) Licence- It was issued in
accordance with law - In view of the technology aspect and
policy framework for levy of ADC, there is no uni/ateralismG
Telecom Regulatory Authority of India Act, 1997- ss. 11 and 13.
Respondent (BSNL) demanded Access Deficit
Charges (ADC) from the appellant for the period
14.11.2004 to 26.8.05 in respect of its service provided
under its brand name 'Walky'. Appellant opposed the
H I
308
y
, _
TATA TELESERVICES LTD. v. BHARAT SANCHAR
309
NIGAM LTD. AND ORS.
--
'(
demand on the ground that 'Walky' is a fixed wireless A
phone WWL(F), having portability as its feature and hence
could not be classified as WWL(M). Appellant raised the
dispute before Telecom Disputes Settlement and
Appellate Tribunal wherein it was held that 'Walky' calls
~
attracted ADC under the regulatory regime. Hence the
B
present appeal.
Appellant contended interalia that the respondent had
no authority to impose ADC liability unilaterally on the
appellants by classifying the instrument as a mobile
phone; that the demand was misconceived as the dispute c
regarding its classification was subjudice before the
authority; that 'Walky' as an instrument is portable, not
mobile and therefore could not be classified as WWL(M);
that Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) by the
-(
Circular dated 4.3.2003 has reclassified 'Walky' as WLL(M) D
'\ j.
and thereby has amended the terms and conditions of
UAS Licence and Telecommunication Interconnection
~
Usage Charges Regulation 2003 (IUC Regulations).
'
Respondent-BSNL contended interalia that there E
was no unilateralism in the demand made by BSNL, as
the same was made only after the TRAI and the
Department of Technology (DoT) had issued the Circular
dated 4.3.2003 and Directives dated 23.3.2005 and
".
26.8.2005, respectively; that compliance of the Order/
~· >
....
Directive of DoT dated 26.8.2005 by the appellant,
F
indicates that even according to the appellants, ADC was
payable in respect of the service, i.e., WLL(M) and,
therefore, it was not correct to say that ADC could not be
charged without change in the conditions of licence or
2003 Regulations.
G
->
Dismissing the appeals, the Court
HELD 1.1 The services of the appellants vide the
instrument 'Walky' falls in the category of WLL(M) service
and, accordingly, the appellants would be liable to pay
H
310
SUPREME COURT REPORTS
[2008] 7 S.C.R.
y
~
A Access Deficit Charges (ADC) in that regard during the
relevant period ie. 14.11.2004 to 26.8.2005. [Para 49]
[364-A, B]
........
1.2 Directive dated 4.3.2005 by Telecom Regulatory
Authority of India (TRAI) was issued to all access
i'<•.r•
B
)-
providers. The said directive came to be issued as it was
brought to the notice of TRAI that new terminals were
being deployed by access providers which terminals do
not have any fixed network access point physically located
at the address of the subscriber. In the said Circular, TRAI
c noted that fixed wireless services were required to be
provided through fixed wireless terminals with the
location of the network access point being fixed and with
the end-user terminal being connected to it. That, it had
been brought to the notice of TRAI that new terminals were
·D being deployed by certain access providers which did not
..
possess fixed network access point physically located
:4 ,.
in the premises of the subscriber. Therefore, by the said
•
Circular, TRAI directed the service providers to strictly
ensure that the terminal used for fixed wireless services
E should strictly comply with premises specification
restriction, i.e., to the premises of the subscriber. The
Circular dated 4.3.2005 stood followed by letters from DoT
dated 23.3.2005 and 26.8.2005. [Para 38] [356-F, G; 357-A-D]
1.3 The Circular dated 4.3.2005 issued by TRAI is
F clarificatory and not amendatory. In the Circular, TRAI has
"" ...
used certain technological terms generally used in
telecommunications like 'network access point', 'end-user
terminal' and 'fixed network access point'. These terms
find place in the generic requirement formulated as far
G back as 1996. They also find place in the Principles of
""·
£,I''
Wireless Access formulated by ITU-RCA. Keeping in mind
,.,
the definitions given both in the technical references as
,_
well as in the principles of wireless access formulated by
ITU-RCA, it is clear that Premises Specific Restriction
H ("PSR") is not something new which stood evolved for
;
.!._
....
-·
TATA TELESERVICES LTD. v. BHARAT SANCHAR
311
NIGAM LTD. AND ORS.
the first time by Circular dated 4.3.2005. In substance, PSR A
emanates from concepts, which are well known in
telecommunications, both in technological references as
well as in terms of generic requirements and in terms of
principles of wireless access. [Paras 39 and 40] [357-DH; 358-A, B]
B
1.4 Broadly FWA is called WLL(F). The UAS Licence
refers to three types of wireless services, namely, full
mobility, limited mobility and FWA. As stated, in FWA, the
location of the end-user (Walky) and the network access
point (antenna connected to the end-user) are both fixed C
whereas in the case of mobile wireless access, the
location of the end-user is mobile. WLL(M) is a hybrid
between FWA and MWA. Wireless access may be
considered from many perspectives. [Para 40] [358-B, C]
1.5 The main purpose of FWA [WLL(F))] is to provide D
network access to buildings through exterior antennas
communicating with Central Radio Base Stations. In FWA,
users in a building are allowed to connect to the network
with conventional in-built networks. FWA is a service. It is
intended as a cheap cable replacement, without additional E
features. Wireless systems differ depending upon the
amount of mobility that they allow for the users. FWA
system is a derivative of cordless phones. In FWA there is
no mobility of the user devices. This is where the concept/
principle of PSR emerges. There is a difference between
F
mobility and portability. A terminal may be portable but
every portable device is not mobile. The concepts
mentioned in Circular dated 4.3.2005 issued by TRAI exist
in telecommunications right from 2001. The said Circular
merely clarifies and brings out the concept Premises
Specific Restriction (PSR). [Para 40] [358-D, E, F, G]
G
1.6 Classification is done by UAS Licence followed
by
chargeability
under
Telecommu.nication
Interconnection Usage Charges Regulation 2003 (IUC
Regulations). Therefore, it would be wrong to say that vide H
312
SUPREME COURT REPORTS
[2008] 7 S.C.R.
. .,, ...
A Circular dated 4.3.2005 'Walky' has been reclassified as
WLL(M) for the first time by TRAI. If the concept of FWA
[WLL.(F)] embodies PSR and that too from 2003 then it is
clear that the said Circular dated 4.3.2005 is clarificator1.
It does not alter the terms and conditions of the licence.
B FWA is one of the wireless services contemplated by
UAS Licence which is dated July, 2003, therefore, much
prior to circular dated 4.3.2005 these concepts were
known to all access providers right from 2003. [Para 42]
[359-C, D, E]
c
1.7 ADC is a levy. Its levy depends on mobility as a
service feature. The numbering plan, radio frequency etc.
are all important elements of a network. The numbering
levels for fixed wireless services and for WLL(M) services
are different. So also the numbering levels for fixed
D wireless service, limited mobility service and full mobility
service are different. The identification of the call whether
;
~ '
originating from mobile or from 'Walky' or FWA has a
correlation with the numbering plan which is an important
element of the network of the appellant in its MSC. For
E levy of ADC, integrity of numbering plan is very important.
[Para 43] [359-F-H; 360-A]
1.8 In the present case, TRAI has detected that the
'!"'"
appellant is providing WLL(M) service in the garb of fixed
wireless phone service (FWA) which disturbs the integrity
F of the numbering plan. In the case of full mobility, the rate
~
is different as compared to the rate in the case of limited
mobility as compared to the rate in fixed wireless service.
This difference in the rates is spelt out in IUC Regulation,
2003. It is for this reason that even in the clarification
G issued by DoT on 23.3.2005, the access providers were
warned by pointing out that the issue of mobility has
implication with respect to the applicability of ADC. It was
< -
further clarified that if it is not possible for the access
provider to comply with the requirement of PSR then the
H 'Walky' services shall be treated as WLL(M) service for all
TATA TELESERVICES LTD. v. BHARAT SANCHAR
313
NIGAM LTD. AND ORS .
._,
purposes including numbering plan, interconnection A
usage charges, ADC etc. This is because a separate level
with allocated short distance charging area based link
numbering is to be used for wireline and fixed wireless
services. [Para 43] [360-A, B, C, D]
1.9 The record indicates that right from 2003, when
B
UAS Licence stood issued, the classification was
contemplated by the licensor-DoT when it categorized
wireless service into full mobility, limited mobility and FWA.
ADC, interconnection usage charges etc. follow that
classification. IUC Regulation, 2003 imposes the statutory c
charges based on the classification in the licence. What
is important in this case is that besides technological data,
even as a matter of policy if there is a contract between
DoT and the access provider in terms of LIAS Licence
which provides for three categories, then the levy of ADC D
•· J
~
would depend upon the service which is rendered to the
user by the access provider. In the circumstances, apart
from technology, this case is more on tax policy which
levies ADC on services which fall in the category of
WLL(M). [Para 43] [360-D, E, F, G]
E
1.10 Wireless systems differ in the amount of mobility
that they have to allow for the users. The ability to move
-,
around while communicating is one of the main features
of wireless communication for the user. However, within
that requirement of mobility, different grades exist; i.e.
F
~; -4
Fixed Devices; Nomadic Devices; and Low Mobility.[Para
44] [360-G; 361-A]
1.11 In the licence there are three types of wirelss
services, namely, limited mobility, full mobility and FWA. G
IUC levies the charge based on this classification. ADC is
a part of IUC. ADC is also levied under IUC Regulation,
2003. In the case of 'Walky', the instrument can be put in
the car, it can be carried throughout SDCA and 'Walky'
calls can originate not only from the subscriber's premises H
314
SUPREME COURT REPORTS
[2008] 7 S.C.R.
A but it can also originate from any point in the SDCA.
'/"'
Because of this mobility, it is classifiable in the category
of limited mobility. In the case of FWA [WLL(F)], there is
no mobility of the user device. When there is no such
mobility of the user device, it is similar to all wired
B communications. Therefore, FWA is categorized as
WLL(F). All wired communications can also fall in WLL(F)
for the purposes of levy of ADC. However, since the user
device in the case in hand is mobile throughout SDCA,
the services which the instrument 'Walky' offers has to
c be categorized as WLL(M) service. In the present case,
the appellants were providing WLL(M) services during the
above period in the garb of FWA or fixed wireless phone
services and thereby they have infringed the integrity of
the numbering plan. Therefore, ADC is payable by the
D appellants for the aforesaid period, namely, 14.11.2004 to
26.8.2005. [Para 45] [361-D-H, 362-A, BJ
1.12 Classification of services stood effected under
). ' '·
UAS Licence 2003. Under the terms and conditions of that
licence, the access providers were required to maintain
E the integrity of the numbering plan. This was one of the
conditions of the licence. Similarly, classification/
'
categorization of wireless services was done under the
licence. The categorization constituted the term of the
'
licence. As a matter of follow-up for the purposes of levy
-
F of certain charges, including ADC, IUC Regulation 2003
stood enacted. Under Section 11 (1 )(b) of Telecom
Regulatory Authority of India Act, 1997, the TRAI is
.... ....
empowered to ensure compliance of terms and conditions
of licence and to fix the terms and conditions of interG connectivity between the service providers Similarly,
under Section 11(1)(c), TRAI is also authorized to levy fees
and other charges at such rates and in respect of such
services as may be determined by regulations. In the
....
present case, the IUC Regulation, 2003 indicates by way
H of schedule the rate chargeable for a call originating from
TATA TELESERVICES LTD. v. BHARAT SANCHAR
315
NIGAM LTD. AND ORS.
-·
"!'
mobile to fixed, fixed to fixed, fixed to mobile etc. Under A
Section 13 of the 1997 Act, TRAI is empowered to issue
directions from time to time to the service providers for
the discharge of its functions under Section 11(1) of the
1997 Act. The classification of the three wireless services
was done under the licence. The clarification issued by B
TRAI on 4.3.2005 was under Section 13 of the 1997 Act. In
the circumstances, the said clarification dated 4.3.2005
was issued by TRAI in accordance with law. [Para 46]
[362-B-G]
2. It is not correct to say that when the question c
whether portable WLL(F) Phones should be treated alike
as WLL(M) phones was pending before TRAI- pursuant to
complaints from BSNL dated 4.1.2005, it was not open to
TRAI to issue a directive as is done in this case on 4.3.2005
without waiting for a determination by the competent D
)
~
authority. The directive dated 4.3.2005 is clarificatory and
not amendatory. In any event, in view of the technology
aspect and policy framework for levy of ADC, there is no
unilateralism as alleged by the appellant. [Para 48] [363-A-D]
CIVIL APPEALLATE JURISDICTION : Civil Appeal No.
E
5850 of 2005.
From the final Judgment and Order dated 9.9.2005 of the
Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal, New Delhi
in Petition No. 45 of 2005.
F
.#
-.{
WITH
Civil Appeal No. 5871 of 2005.
Gopal Subramanium, Vikas Singh, ASGs, Arun Jaitely,
Romji Srinivasan, K.K. Venugopal, J.J. Bhatt, P.P. Tripathi, G
Rakesh Dwivedi, Dr. A.M. Singhvi, Ruby Singh Ahuja, Manu
-·
Aggrawal, Simran Brar, Jai Singh Brar, Manik Karanjawala,
Anjali Chandiyalker, Manali Singhal, K. Raj, Gopal Sankar
Narayan, Abhijat P. Medh, Maninder Singh, Prathibha M. Singh,
Gaurav Sharma, Summeet Bhatia, Surabhi Mehta, Yoginder H
316
SUPREME COURT REPORTS
[2008] 7 S.C.R.
A
Handoo, Tejveer Bhatia, S.W.A. Qadri, Anil Katiyar, Sanjay
Jo-
..
Kapur, Shubhra Kapur. Raj iv Kapur, Arti Singh, Navin Chawla,
Manjul Bajpai, Ritika Chawla, Arun Dhillon, for the appearing
parties
B
The Judgment of the Court was delivered by
KAPADIA, J. The controversy in these civil appeals is:
whether appellant is liable to pay Access Deficit Charges
("ADC") to BSNL for the period commencing from 14.11.2004
to 26.8.2005 in respect of its service provided under its brand
c name "WALKY".
Introduction:
2. ADC is a levy imposed by TRAI (Regulator) on the
operators (service providers) to support roll out of telephones
D
in rural areas. Since BSNL owns 99% of the rural phones, ADC
constitutes a levy for the appellant and a subsidy for BSNL. The
said ADC has two parts: (i) the component of the payment to be
)
t.
made by the domestic service provider, and (ii) the component
of the payment to be made by international long-distance service
providers. The ADC regime was introduced in 2004.
E
3. In March, 1997, Telecom Regulatory Authority of India
("TRAI") Act stood enacted. The Government introduced New
Telecommunication Policy ("NTP") in 1999 and proceeded to
implement the said policy. By TRAI (Amendment) Act, 2000 a
F key change came to be effected as a result of NTP, 1999. The
said amendment segregated the Regulatory and Dispute
Settlement norms of the original TRAI. Under the new regime,
).-
4.....
all disputes involving consumer and service provider(s) had to
go to TDSAT. The said regime excluded civil courts from ruling
G
on disputes arising out ofTRAI decisions. TDSATwas conferred
with original and appellate jurisdictions. The TRAI (Amendment)
Act, 2000 defines precisely the regulatory powers of the TRAI.
The said Regulator became responsible for introduction of new
..
service providers, technical improvements, quality standards
and fixing the terms and conditions of licences. One more event
H needs to be mentioned. In order to separate policy making and
TATA TELESERVICES LTD. v. BHARAT SANCHAR
317
NIGAM LTD. AND ORS. [KAPADIA, J.]
~
'"'
service provision roles of the DoT, the Government created
A
Department of Telecom Services ("DTS"}, which was later turned
into the corporate entity known as BSNL on 1.10.2000.
4. Under the NTP, 1999, all new cellular mobile service
providers had to pay a fixed fees upon entry, and then pay a
B
portion of their revenues to the Government. However, after
..
August, 1999 the revenue-sharing arrangement came into
effect.
5. Given an ambitious target to achieve a tele-density of
7%, the NTP 1999 sought to bring private players into basic c
service which is the minimum facility and in which mobility as
feature of a telecom service was not a part of basic service.
The permissibility to provide a service is determined by the terms
and conditions of a licence granted by DoT whereas obligation
to pay interconnection usage charges/ADC is determined by
D
TRAI through its regulations framed under section 36 of the 1997
. -"'
Act in conformity with the licence conditions.
6. By a policy decision of Government of India in 2001,
basic service operators having the licence for providing fixed
service were allowed to provide Wireless Local Loop Mobile
E
[WLL(M))] service within the purview of their basic service
licence.
7. During 1997 -April, 2003, there was no liability to pay
ADC ( a concept introduced by TRAI in 2003).
8. On 1.11.2003, DoTintroduced a Unified Access Service F·
..,
..(
("UAS") licence which allowed its holder to provide wire-line as
· well as wireless services in a service area. However, wireless
services included full mobile, limited mobile and fixed
wireless services under the UAS licence. The existing
G
service providers were given the option to stay on their original
licence or change to the UAS licence to facilitate
-·
communications convergence by allowing value-added services
on the same licence. However, all telecom operators had to pay
IUC including ADC in accordance with IUC Regulations framed
byTRAI.
H
318
SUPREME COURT REPORTS
[2008] 7 S.C.R.
A
WLL Technology:
...
~
9. Before considering the contentions advanced on behalf
of the appellants and BSNL (respondent no. 1 ), it would be
necessary to consider certain terms used in the WLL technology.
B
i) Cellular Telephony
Cellular telephone is a type of short-wave analog or digital
transmission in which a subscriber has a wireless connection
from a mobile (terminal) to a nearby transmitter. The transmitter's
area of coverage is called as a cell. In wireless telephony, a cell
c is the geographical area covered by a cellular telephone
transmitter. The transmitter facility is called the cell site. When
a subscriber enters into an agreement with a cellular telephone
service provider, he is given access to the cell system of that
provider, which is local. When travelling out of the range of the
D said cell system, the cell system can enable him to be transferred
to a neighbouring company's cell system without the subscriber
being aware of it. This is called roaming service. A cellular
l .
telephone is not to be confused with a cordless telephone, which
is simply a phone with a very short wireless connection to a
E local phone outlet.
High mobility of the users is one of the important properties
of cellular telephone. The location of a user can change
significantly during a call which can originate from the user or
from the network. In cellular telephony a mobile user
F communicates with a base station. The base stations are
connected to MSC, which is connected to the public telephone
\.-
~
system. The most important aspect of cellular telephony is the
unlimited mobility. The user can be anywhere within the
coverage area of the network (i.e., !t is not limited to a
G specific cell). The user can move from one cell to another even
during one call.
Cellular telephony is different from cordless telephone. In
' -
cordless telephone, there is a wireless link between a handset
and a base station which in turn is directly connected to the
H public telephone system.
TATA TELESERVICES LTD. v. BHARAT SANCHAR
319
NIGAM LTD. AND ORS. [KAPADIA, J.]
'""'
It is important to note that economic factors impact the
A
design of wireless communication systems and services. Those
systems where the mobility is of value per se - e.g., in cellular
telephony, the same is more expensive than wired system. For
example, the per minute price in the case of cellular telephony
system is higher than the landline telephone. It is competition
B
which may bring down the price per unit. Since 1990 many
consumers and even companies have opted for cellular
telephony alone cancelling in some cases wired services. On
the other hand, services where wireless access is only intended
as a cheap cable replacement, without additional features - c
e.g., Fixed Wireless Access, the systems have to be cost
effective, as the infrastructure is comparatively cheaper as
compared to the infrastructure needed for wired connections.
ii) Examples of Wireless Equipments:
Wireless is a term used to describe telecommunications D
in which electromagnetic waves carry the signal over the
communication path. The first wireless transmitter went on the
air in the early 201h Century using Morse code. Later, as
technology improved it became possible to transmit voices and
music via wireless, the medium came to be called "radio". With
E
the advent of television, fax, data communication and the
effective use of the spectrum, the term "wireless" has been
revived. The common examples of wireless equipments in use
today include cellular phones, pagers, global positioning system
("GPS"), cordless telephone sets, satellite television, wireless
F
--!
LANs (Local Area Networks), global system for mobile
communication ("GSM"), fixed wireless application, mobile
wireless and portable wireless. Correspondingly, services are
broadcasting, paging, fixed wireless access (FWA), limited
mobility and full mobility etc.
G
In the case of fixed wireless, the operation of wireless
systems is confined to homes and offices, in particular, fixed
->
wireless refers to equipment connected to the internet via
specialized modems. In FWA, the location of the end-user
terminal and network access point to be connected to end-user H
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A are fixed.
B
In the case of mobile wireless, there is the use of wireless
systems or devices aboard motorized, moving vehicles like,
PCS. It also includes automotive cell phones. Unlike FWAs, in
the case of mobiles the instrument is not fixed, it can be moved.
As regards portable wireless, it is battery-powered
wireless device or system which operates outside the office,
home or vehicle. Its operation is autonomous. The examples of
portable wireless are handheld cell phones and PCS units.
C
All the above examples are common examples of wireless
equipments in use today.
iii) Wireless Mobile Communication:
There are a variety of wireless communication systems
D for transmitting voice, video and data in local or wide areas.
E
Mobile wireless technologies provide voice and data
communication services to mobile users to use cell phones,
internet terminals and related computing devices.
iv) Wireless Communications Service (WCS):
WCS is radio communications that may provide fixed,
mobile, radio location or satellite communication services to
individuals and businesses within their assigned spectrum block
and geographical areas. WCS is today capable of providing
F more advanced Wireless Phone Services that would be able to
pinpoint a subscriber in a given locality. WCS is today used to
provide a wide variety of mobile services, including an entire
family of new communication devices utilizing small, light weight;
multifunctional Portable Phones and advanced devices with twoG way data capabilities. It may be noted that every mobile is
portable but every portable phone need not be a mobile. It may
also be noted that we are concerned with "service" to the
individual business and not with the nature of the instrument.
v) Wireless Broadband Access Technologies
H (WBAT):
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Wireless access systems are owned by service providers A
that operate within a metro areas.
The cellular telephone system, as covered under "wireless
mobile communications" allows users to move about, not only
....
within the range of the Local Base Station but to other cells within
B
the same system and even to systems of other service providers.
The "Fixed" wireless systems do not support the extended
roaming features of Mobile Cellular Systems.
The advantage of wireless systems are: no need to install
cable or rely on copper infrastructure.
c
vi) Wireless Communications (WC):
It involves transmitting signals through air and space using
radio waves. Examples blue tooth, CDMA.
vii) Wireless Technologies (WT):
D
. ..I.
A wireless network is a radio, microwave, infrared network.
Most wireless networks have multiple BTSs. (base stations).
viii) Cellular Systems and Topology:
E
A cell in a cellular system is a circular area with a central
transmitter/receiver base station. BTS is raised up on a tower
or top of a building. BTS has a 360-degree antenna which is
tuned to create a cellular area. When a user turns a phone on,
its phone number and serial number are broadcast within the
F
-I
local cell. The BTS picks up the signals and informs the
Switching Office that a particular device is located within its area.
This information is recorded in the switching office for reference.
An actual call takes place when the user enters a phone number
and hits the Send button. The cellular system selects a channel G
for the user to use during the duration of the call. As users travel,
-·
they may move from one cell to another, necessitating a hand off
and the selection of a new channel. While in the vicinity of a cell,
mobile phone users are under the control of the transmitter/
receiver in that cell. A handoff takes place when the base station
H
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A
in one cell transfers control for a user's call to a base station in
another cell. When a base station begins to lose a user's signal,
it notifies base stations in all the surrounding cells that the user
may be moving into their cells. As the user moves into a new
cell, the base station in that cell takes over the call. The frequency
B of the call is changed to a frequency used in the new cell during
~
the transition. This is because adjoining cells cannot use the
same frequencies.
ix) Wireless Local Loop (WLL):
c
Today, technologies provide WLL services, i.e., wireless
access for home and business users to carriers and service
provider network.
According to
Encyclopedia of Networking &
Telecommunications by Tom Sheldon, wireless local loop
D ("WLL") refers to a variety of technologies for connecting
subscribers to the public-switched telephone network ("PSTN")
using wireless links, rather than copper wire. WLL is a practical
solution for connecting subscribers in countries/areas that do
not have the wired infrastructure. It is also practical in rural areas
E as an alternative to laying cable. WLL is primarily a fixed
wireless service (the subscriber generally stays in one
place), while cellular systems offer mobile communication
and roaming among different systems.
F
x) Basics of Wireless Communications:
Today's wireless communications would not be possible
without radio signals which are generated and emitted from a
sender. "They propagate through the atmosphere, and are
received and interpreted by a receiver. There are two
G applications for radio signals. First, they are needed for wireless
communication between a mobile terminal and a fixed network,
which is achieved by manipulating the parameters of the signal
which process is known as modulation. Secondly, radio signals
provide the basis for positior.ing, that is to say for locating the
H target.
)..
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In wired network, the transmission media are copper A
twisted pair, copper cable and optical fibre whereas the
transmission medium for wireless communication is always the
atmosphere, the space or water. Some wired systems like
Ethernet make use of voltage pulses to transmit data. Signals
in wireless communications are electromagnetic waves which
B
are analog.
Electromagnetic waves are produced and received by
antennas. The receiving antenna converts radio signals from
the surrounding environment into alternating current and delivers
it to electronic equipment connected to the antenna, known as c
the receiver. Conversely, the transmitting antenna, on the
other hand, radiates alternating current delivered by a transmitter
into the surrounding environment in the form of radio or micro
wave signals.
The point to be noted is that there is a dichotomy between D
--"
receiving antenna and transmitting antenna. The antenna inside
the instrument is the receiving antenna whereas the antenna on
the BTS is the transmitting antenna.
In short, there exists major differences between wired and
E
wireless media. In wired communications, signals pass through
a solid or guided medium whereas in wireless communications
the technology is based on unguided media like atmosphere,
space or water and, therefore, in wireless communications
--+
signals are exposed to several sources of interference on their F
way from the transmitting to the receiving antenna. Broadly, we
may call this process of transmission to the receiving antenna
as "transmission technology" which is a part of what is called
as access network in contradistinction to what is called as core
network of which the numbering plan is one of the important G
components. This dichotomy needs to be kept in mind for
_,
deciding the present matter. In other words, the receiving antenna
in the subscriber's premises and the transmitting antenna
....
located in the BTS are aligned and they constitute access
network whereas MSC is the exchange in which there is core
H
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,.
A
network consisting of BSC, numbering plan, softwares etc.
which are essential to identify the source from which the call
,
originates, the movement of the subscriber from one cell to the
.
other and the identification of the call for billing purposes. The
Intelligent Network is in MSC.
B
Generally, radio signals are emitted from an antenna omnidirectionally and they can pass several hundreds of kilometers
without being affected by obstacles (what is known as
seamless), which makes radio signals very attractive for radio
and television broadcast.
c
In wireless communications, different types of antennas
are used which differ from each other in respect of directivity of
signals propagation. When signals travel away from a
transmitting antenna in a BTS, they are exposed to a
D reduction in their strength. The degree of attenuation depends
upon the distance between the transmitting antenna and the
,L
receiving antenna, the wavelength of the signals and the
surrounding environment (e.g., indoor, outdoor, rural, urban etc.).
In wireless communications, the air interface (medium)
E
must be shared between different applications (e.g., radio, T.V.,
mobile, cellular systems etc.) and within a certain application
between different users (radio and T.V. stations, subscribers).
This is in contrast to wired infrastructures. In wireless
communications, the resources of the air interface are given by
F space, frequency, time and code and thus classified as space,
frequency, time and Code Division. The point to be noted is
..
that all channels transmit simultaneously in the same frequency
range and in the same space, thereby interfering with each other
to a large extent. This means that the signals of different channels
G are summed up during transmission and, therefore, must be
separated after reception at the receiver. One of the methods
to do so is called as CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access).
,_
Under this method, different channels are separated by a code.
During transmission, the signals from different senders
~
H arrived in the form of a composed signal at the receiver. In
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'"""'
order to reconstruct the data of different senders, the receiver A
has to apply the chipping sequence of the respective sender.
Accordingly, the resulting signal reaches the receiver. ln the
present case, "Walky'' is based on CDMA technology. So also
the "Handset" of Reliance lnfocomm Ltd. is based on the same
...
technology. It may be stressed that CDMA is the very complex
B
technique requiring sophisticated hardwares both in the centres
and the receivers. As all senders transmit in the same frequency
range simultaneously, the radiating power must be carefully
aligned between them in order to guarantee that all senders
can be heard at the receiver.
c
The fundamentals explained hereinabove are relevant to
the transmissioning of data for each kind of mobile service
as well as for positioning. Transmissioning of data as a concept
is different from positioning. Transmissioning relies on
manipulation of radio signals whereas positioning is based on D
-~
measurement of radio signals especially their travelling time or
their attenuation
'
xi) Principles of Cellular Networks:
.,
Mobile communications reached the market in 1980. Even
E
at that time the major challenge was to implement advanced
mobility features such as handover, roaming and localization
of subscribers which required additional control channels
between terminal and serving base station.
\
A cellular network consists of a number of radio cells
F
- ~·
where the term "cell" refers to geographic coverage area of a
BTS. The size of the coverage area depends on the signal
strength of the base station and the degree of attenuation. Each
BTS is assigned a certain number of channels for transmitting
and receiving data which is called as cell allocation ("CA"). To
G
avoid interference between cells, it needs to be guaranteed that
r•
the neighbouring base stations are also assigned cell allocations
of different channels. There are no sharp borders between
neighbouring cells. Most of the time they overlap. In urban areas,
a mobile device can hear a set of around 10 base stations
H
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A
simultaneously, and then it selects from this set of base station
within the strongest signal. The number of cells a network is
made up of is basically a function of the size of area to be
covered and the user penetration. When building up a new
network, operators first concentrate on establishing a coverage
B
in congested urban areas before establishing base stations in
rural areas. If a network runs the risk of becoming overloaded in
a certain region, the operators can increase the capacity by
increasing the base stations density.
A cellular network not only consists of base stations
C but also comprises a network infrastructure for
interconnecting base stations, mobility support, service
provisioning and connection to other networks like
internet. Therefore, a cellular network consists of several
access networks, which include the radio equipment
o which is necessary to interconnect a terminal to the
network. The access networks are interconnected by the core
network. For example, in GSM, the access network is referred
to as Base Station Subsystem ("BSS") whereas the core network
is denoted as Mobile Switching and Management Subsystem
E ("SMSS"). BSS is responsible for monitoring and controlling
the air interface. BSS consists of two different components,
namely Base Transceiver Station ("BTS") and Base Station
Controller ("BSC"). BTS stands for "base station". It contains
transmitter and receiver equipment as well as an antenna. The
base station is equipped with very limited capabilities for
F signalling a protocol processing. The bulk of the work, for
example, allocation and release of channels is done by the
BSC. The BSC is mainly responsible for control and execution
of handover, a function which is needed to keep a circuitswitched connection if the subscriber moves between base
G stations. Therefore, each BSC controls several base $tations,
which are connected to the BSC via fixed lines or radio link
systems. On the other hand, mobile Switching and Management
System is a fixed network of switching nods and databases for
establishing connections from and to the mobile subscriber. HLR
H and VLR are two important databases which are the foundation
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of the Numbering Plan in MSC. The switching components are
A
the Mobile Switching Centre ("MSC") and the Gateway MSC
("GMSC"). The MSC connects a number of BSCs. to the network
for the purposes of localization and handover. Thus, it is the
MSC which is responsible for serving a limited geographic
region governed by all base stations connected to the MSC
B
.....
over their BSCs. In a mobile network, when a connection is to
be established it is the MSC which determines another switch
depending on the current location of the mobile subscriber. Fo'r
this purpose, MSC is also connected to local network for each
subscriber so as to implement the numbering plan. The area c
from which the call emanates, the identification of the nature of
the call whether from mobile or fixed wireline is all done by the
computer having the requisite software in MSC.
xii) Fixed Wireless Access WLL(F):
...
Fixed wireless access ("FWA") also known as WLL(F) has
D
~
coverage between Wireless Local Area Networks ("WLANs")
and cellular communication systems. The main purpose of
FWA is to provide network access to buildings through
exterior antennas communicating with central radio base
E
stations.