Airtel's Strongly Worded Complaint Against Tejas Networks
India's telecom sector is witnessing a significant clash between two major players. Bharti Airtel, the country's second-largest telecom operator, has formally accused Tata-owned Tejas Networks of using what it describes as "sub-standard equipment" for the state-run BSNL's 4G network deployment. This allegation, made in a strongly worded letter sent on November 14, marks a serious escalation in what appears to be an ongoing technical dispute.
The Core Issue: Frequency Interference
At the heart of this conflict lies a problem of frequency interference that Airtel claims has been affecting its Quality of Service (QoS) in Rajasthan since December of last year. According to documents reviewed by The Economic Times, Airtel alleges that Tejas Networks' equipment for BSNL's 4G network, which operates on the 800 MHz band, is causing emissions that are bleeding into Airtel's own 900 MHz spectrum.
Airtel's technical team has identified what they believe is the root cause: a fundamental flaw in the filter design of Tejas' equipment. The telecom giant asserts that Tejas' filters are designed for the international frequency range of 864-894 MHz, while India's 800 MHz downlink is strictly allocated between 869-889 MHz. "The current Tejas filter design, therefore, does not align with India's frequency plan, resulting in emissions beyond the allocated band," Airtel stated in its communication.
Tejas Networks' Response and Defense
In response to these serious allegations, Tejas Networks has firmly rejected claims of non-compliance. The company released an official statement asserting that its equipment meets all 3GPP specifications and BSNL's technical requirements concerning out-of-band emissions.
Rather than acknowledging any hardware failure, Tejas attributed the interference issues to what it describes as a historical problem of spectrum allocation overlap. "The problem in Rajasthan circle is due to an overlap of spectrum bands and is being addressed by additional filtering in consultation with DoT, Airtel and BSNL," the company told The Economic Times.
Broader Implications for India's Telecom Ambitions
This technical standoff occurs against the crucial backdrop of the Indian government's push for self-reliance in telecommunications. BSNL has been mandated to use equipment exclusively from domestic suppliers, with its 4G network being rolled out by a consortium that includes C-DoT, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), and Tejas Networks.
The dispute highlights the complex challenges India faces in its transition to using indigenous telecom gear, a strategic move designed to reduce the country's dependence on foreign vendors amid growing geopolitical uncertainties. Airtel expressed significant frustration in its letter, noting that despite "repeated technical submissions, discussions, joint tests, and directives," no effective corrective action has been implemented to resolve the interference problems affecting its services in Rajasthan.
