Loop agrees settlement with Vodafone

Vodafone India and Loop Mobile have resolved a dispute over unpaid interconnection fees, the Hindu writes. Vodafone blocked all incoming calls from its smaller rival earlier this week, claiming that it was owed ‘long overdue’ interconnect fees from Loop. ‘We have reached an agreement for payment settlement with Loop Mobile. Accordingly the connection is being restored,’ Vodafone said in a statement, stopping short of giving any financial details. A spokesperson for Loop echoed Vodafone, saying: ‘Loop Mobile regrets the inconvenience caused to subscribers in Mumbai. This was due to a financial disagreement between Loop Mobile and Vodafone which has now been resolved. The voice calling services shall start shortly.’ As previously noted by CommsUpdate, Loop has been in dire financial straits since the cancellation of sister company Loop Telecom’s licences for 21 operating areas in February 2012, and the cellco is currently involved in the sale of its Mumbai network and customers to Bharti Airtel, although the transaction has been delayed by the issue of further unpaid dues, this time to Chinese vendor ZTE.