After acceptance of the request both the parties shall draft and sign an interconnection agreement and the same shall be submitted within 07 days of signing the agreement and the Authority within 60 days shall approve the draft agreement.

The Authority shall consider the following factors;
● The interconnection agreement is not contrary to the Act, Rules, Guidelines and other relevant laws.
● The interconnection agreement is consistent with the objective of the Telecommunication Policy.
● The interconnection agreement is not against the interest of the users and other licensed operators. After approval of said agreement from the Authority, both the parties shall sign an agreement duly prepared on the stamp paper and shall submit a certified copy to the Authority within 07 days.
If the Authority does not approve the draft agreement it shall inform the parties with the reasons in detail within 60 days and the parties have 14 days time to overcome the deficiencies and resubmit the draft agreement but if the Authority fails to inform within such time, the same shall be considered approved. After the successful approval, the interconnection shall be carried out within 30 days of the approval.

Before proceeding with the claim filed by the operator, the authority shall direct the parties for pre-admission negotiation. This process of negotiation must be finalized within fifteen days and if the result of negotiation remains unsuccessful then the claim of the operator shall stand admitted for hearing and the parties will be directed to proceed in accordance with the law.

Filing of Claims and Admission:

● An operator may file a Claim with the Authority in the prescribed manner if that operator (claimant) is unable to reach agreement with the respondent.
● The standing case officer shall within three days of filing, place the claim before the Authority along with a non-binding recommendation for admission.
● The Authority shall admit the Claim for hearing upon being satisfied the pre-conditions.
● The decision on admission of the Claim shall be taken within seven days of filing of the Claim.
● If admission of the Claim is declined, the Claimant may re-file the Claim after removing the deficiency.
● Authority shall from amongst its officers and consultants designate a case management team comprising not less than two members.
● The case management team shall manage and progress the proceedings with regard to the receiving pleadings and application, record evidence, issue information directions etc.
● Upon admission of the Claim, the Authority shall nominate one of its members to be the presiding officer for the first hearing and the final hearing.

● If the Authority considers that negotiations may enable the parties to reach agreement, the Authority may, instead of admitting the Claim (admission) for hearing, direct the parties to enter into negotiations.
● The Authority may require that one or more stages of negotiations be conducted in the presence of one or more members of the case management team.
● If the parties remain unable to reach agreement after negotiations as stated above, the Claim shall stand admitted for hearing.

Upon admission of a Claim for hearing:
● A copy of the Claim shall be served by the case management team to the Respondent with a direction to submit a Reply within 15 days.
● After the admission of the Claim for hearing, a date shall be notified by the case management team to the parties for the first hearing.
● At least three days before the date of the first hearing, the parties shall file a statement of objections to admissibility of evidence and a statement of the understanding reached between the parties.

First Hearing:

● At the first hearing, the presiding officer shall invite the parties to refer to the then current version of the guidelines made by the Authority.
● The presiding officer may indicate the likely views of the Authority on particular matters arising out of the pleadings.
● If the parties are unable to reach agreement at the conclusion of the first hearing, the proceedings shall stand adjourned for a date to be notified subsequently by the case management team.

Final Hearing:

● At the final hearing, the parties shall state their positions by referring to their pleadings in the context of the scope of dispute.
● Except for good cause, a party shall not be allowed to refer to any evidence or material not made part of its pleadings or address any argument on any matter not sufficiently expressed in its pleadings.
● A party may address oral arguments only on matters announced by the presiding officer at the outset of the final hearing as requiring oral arguments.
● The parties may be directed to conduct their respective cases and examine and cross-examine witnesses within the time limits set and conveyed to the parties in the form of a hearing timetable at least three days before the final hearing by the case management team. Evidence:
● Oral evidence in support of the Claim, the Reply or an application shall be given by affidavit attached with the Claim, the Reply or the application, the witness shall be made available at the final hearing for cross-examination.
● Documentary evidence shall be filed in legible copy.

● All hearings shall be audio recorded.
● The case management team shall prepare written transcripts of all hearings.
● A written transcript shall be circulated to the parties within seven days after the hearing.
● Conversations, argumentative discussions and oral or written evidence copies whereof have been provided to the parties shall not be recorded in the written transcripts and a summary shall be recorded instead.

Final Decision:

● The final decision of the Authority shall be announced within 60 days.
● The final decision may specify the time limit within which compliance therewith is to be reported to the Authority.
● A party failing to comply with the final decision within the time limit specified therein may be proceeded against under section 23 of the Act.