Bharti Airtel has reportedly lodged a formal complaint against Tata-owned Tejas Networks, alleging that the domestic vendor is using “sub-standard equipment” for BSNL’s 4G rollout, which is causing severe interference with Airtel’s network in Rajasthan. According to a report by The Economic Times (ET), Airtel sent a strongly worded letter to Tejas on November 14, claiming that the issue has been affecting its Quality of Service (QoS) since December of last year. The publication, which reviewed a copy of the letter, noted Airtel’s frustration that no corrective action has been taken despite “repeated technical submissions, discussions, joint tests, and directives.”According to the report, the core of the dispute involves frequency interference. Tejas Networks is currently deploying an indigenous technology stack for state-run BSNL’s 4G network using the 800 MHz band. Airtel alleges this equipment is bleeding into its own 900 MHz spectrum. In the letter accessed by ET, Airtel stated: “…seek an immediate action on continuing interference being caused to Airtel’s 900 MHz network in the Rajasthan service area, as a direct consequence of the Tejas-manufactured sub-standard equipment, deployed by BSNL in the 800 MHz band.”Airtel argues that the interference stems from a flaw in Tejas’ filter design. The operator claims the filters are designed for the international frequency range of 864-894 MHz, whereas the 800 MHz downlink in India 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 said in the report.
Tejas Networks on Airtel letter
Tejas Networks has reportedly rejected the allegations of non-compliance. In a statement given to The Economic Times, the company asserted that its equipment meets all 3GPP specifications and BSNL’s technical requirements regarding out-of-band emissions.Tejas attributed the issue to historical spectrum allocation rather than hardware failure. “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 ET.This technical standoff occurs against the backdrop of the Indian government’s push for self-sufficiency in telecom. BSNL has been mandated to use equipment from local firms, with its 4G network being rolled out by a consortium including C-DoT, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), and Tejas. The incident highlights the complexities of India’s transition to using indigenous telecom gear, a move designed to reduce reliance on foreign vendors amid geopolitical uncertainties.
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