The Telecom Tribunal TDSAT today overturned a government ban on Airtel, Vodafone and Idea offering 3G mobile services beyond their licensed zones through roaming pacts. The Tribunal said, it was in national interest to allow better utilisation of scarce radio frequency. The judgement brought relief to the three operators who faced a penalty of 1,200 crore rupees for entering into pacts with each other to offer 3G services in the regions where they did not win spectrum in the 2010 auction. The Department of Telecom had banned such intra – circle roaming agreements, saying they enabled the companies to offer 3G services without buying spectrum. This was challenged by operators before the TDSAT.