Stung by the campaign against limited mobility, the Tatas and the Ambanis are planning to jointly give a fitting reply to the cellular brigade.

According to industry sources, Himachal Futuristic Communication Ltd, which also offers limited mobility in Punjab, is holding talks with both Tata Teleservices and Reliance Infocomm for exploring the possibility of a joint press conference.

"Cell firms have been feeding the public with false information about WLL limited mobility and interconnection. We need to counter it," said a source. According to basic operators, WLL players had offered to deposit a security equivalent to the access charges in the absence of a commercial agreement on interconnect.

This will create a conflict of interest within the Tata group with Idea Cellular on one side of the divide and Tata Teleservices on the other.

"We have been urging them to arrive at an interim arrangement till a final agreement is reached. But GSM players are not ready for this," said a Delhi-based basic operator.

Meanwhile, consumer groups like Spandan and All India Centre For the Development of Environment and Education have approached Pramod Mahajan, minister for IT and communication to intervene and ask cellular operators to interconnect.

Responding to the cell firms' allegation of being unfairly treated, basic operators said the cell firms could easily adjust the access charges of Rs 1.20 per three minutes from the airtime earned. "The stand taken by cellular operators that subscribers pay airtime in addition to access charges is just a ploy," said a basic operator.

Basic operators said the claim of the cellular industry that zero entry fee was paid for WLL services was erroneous. "The cellular operators have taken the law in their own hands. Their licences as well as the regulations require them to provide interconnection," said a basic operator.