Government sources claim that the Indian telecom department is planning to ask mobile service providers to pay a higher spectrum usage fee for 3G roaming deals.

Bharti, Idea, Vodafone and Aircel are some of the local players who have signed up roaming agreements with each other to let their customers use 3G in areas where they do not have the licenses for.

This has turned into a controversy as it allow mobile companies to offer 3G services in regions outside their authorized circles.

DoT and TRAI have in fact claimed that such deals are illegal as they do not comply with the deals signed at the time of 3G spectrum sale.

It is not clear when this proposal would be sent to the mobile companies.