The Telecom Disputes Settlement & Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) on Friday upheld the petition of Internet Services Providers Association of India (Ispai) challenging government’s move to charge uniform licence fee of 8% of their annual gross revenue.

ISPs had moved the tribunal saying it would force a change in the licence agreement without mutual consent. It said that it would force them to put extra burden on customers as internet and broadband penetration is low in the country.

TDSAT in its verdict said that presumably the government was required to consider all aspects of the matter, including the question of whether the petitioners, with regard to pure internet services vis-a-vis services rendered by UAS licencees have a level playing field.

“If they do not, appropriate measure may have to be taken but the petitioners could not be asked to provisionally pay based on their annual gross revenue (AGR), where the final decsion is to be taken at a later stage," the tribunal said.