In a significant escalation of an ongoing technical dispute, telecom giant Bharti Airtel has once again labeled the equipment manufactured by Tata-owned Tejas Networks and deployed by state-run Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) as "sub-standard." This fresh accusation, detailed in a strongly worded letter, dismisses Tejas's previous clarifications and underscores a deepening rift between major players in the Indian telecommunications sector.
The Core of the Conflict: A Technical Standoff
The controversy centers on alleged network interference affecting Airtel's Quality of Service (QoS). According to a report, Airtel sent a formal communication to Tejas Networks on November 14, expressing frustration that the issue, which it claims has been persistent since December of last year, remains unresolved. The letter stated that despite "repeated technical submissions, discussions, joint tests, and directives," no effective corrective action has been taken, and it demanded immediate resolution.
Airtel's primary technical argument is that the problem stems from the radio equipment supplied by Tejas for BSNL's network. The company asserts that the filter designed by Tejas for the 800 MHz band is aligned with certain international standards (864-894 MHz) but does not conform to India's specific spectrum allocation, where the 800 MHz downlink operates strictly between 869-889 MHz. Airtel claims that Tejas's equipment "radiates signals beyond those limits," which in turn interferes with Airtel's 900 MHz uplink operations.
Tejas Networks Counters Airtel's Claims
In a sharp rebuttal dated November 24, Tejas Networks rejected Airtel's allegations of supplying sub-standard equipment. Instead, the company placed the blame squarely on Airtel's network deployment strategy. Tejas argued that the interference arises "not due to Tejas's radios not meeting out-of-band emission specifications but primarily because Airtel's sites are deployed very close to BSNL's, without adequately maximising coupling losses."
Attributing the issue to a historical spectrum allocation overlap, particularly in the Rajasthan circle, Tejas stated that the matter is being addressed through additional filtering in consultation with the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Airtel, and BSNL. This positions the problem as a regulatory and planning issue rather than a failure of its hardware.
Broader Implications for India's Telecom Ambitions
This technical standoff occurs against the critical backdrop of the Indian government’s strong push for self-sufficiency, or 'Atmanirbharta,' in the telecom sector. BSNL has been mandated to use equipment from domestic firms, with its 4G network rollout being handled by a consortium that includes C-DoT, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), and Tejas Networks.
The public disagreement between a private telecom leader and a key domestic gear supplier highlights the complex challenges India faces in its transition to using indigenous telecom equipment. This move is strategically designed to reduce the nation's reliance on foreign vendors amid global geopolitical uncertainties, but as this incident shows, ensuring seamless technical integration and performance between different operators and homegrown suppliers is a critical hurdle that must be overcome.
