ITV

Category: Regulators

  • TRAI ideas on public WiFi in three weeks; Mumbai gets 500 hotspots

    TRAI ideas on public WiFi in three weeks; Mumbai gets 500 hotspots

    MUMBAI: Telecom regulator TRAI has said it will finalise in 20-25 days its views on ‘public WiFi networks’ terming the affordability and availability of broadband as a “prerequisite” for growth of digital transactions. Public WiFi networks would offer data connectivity at 10 per cent of the prevailing rates.

    TRAI chairman R S Sharma said their recommendations would come in in 20-25 days. The basic objective of Digital India was to encourage digital transactions of all kinds, he said, adding that the broadband access needed to be ubiquitous, reliable and robust.

    In its consultation paper floated in July last year, TRAI had said that it is estimated that cost per MB in Wi-Fi Network could be less than 2 paise per MB while consumers on an average are paying around 23 paise per MB for the data usage in the cellular network like 2G, 3G and 4G.

    The broadband shortage with regard to wired infrastructure will also be addressed through the growth of community WiFI hotspots. Digital payment channels have seen major rise in transactions after demonetisation.

    Meanwhile, Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis announced the rollout of the largest public WiFi service in Mumbai by launching 500 live hotspots across Mumbai. The hotspots in the metro will go up to 1,200 by 1 May (Maharashtra Day), Fadnavis assured.

    The state’s mega-project to turn Mumbai into a “WiFi city” was announced in August 2015. For its free internet, the government has been using the state-run MTNL network. The free network is good for either 1GB of data (offered at 20Mbps) or 30 minutes, whichever is reached first.

    Also Read:

    Wi-fi proliferation: Discussion postponed to 28 Dec

    “There would be a lot on TRAI’s plate in 2017” – RS Sharma

    Wi-fi proliferation, Net Telephony discussion in January

     

     

  • Spectrum, VSAT licences AGR: TRAI discussion on 19 Jan

    Spectrum, VSAT licences AGR: TRAI discussion on 19 Jan

    NEW DELHI: An Open House Discussion will be organised by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India on its consultation paper on minimum presumptive AGR for Spectrum and VSAT licenses.

    The OHD will be held in the capital on 19 January 2017. The paper was issued on 17 August 2016 after a query by the Department of Telecom on 25 June 2014 and 15 May 2015 to which TRAI had responded on 2 March 2016.

    TRAI had asked stakeholders if spectrum assignment on location basis/link-by-link basis on administrative basis to ISPs be continued in the specified bands. On 19 September 2016, TRAI extended the date for comments to 13 October.

    The regulator has discussed issues relating to minimum presumptive AGR for ISP licenses and VSAT licenses and other issues raised by DoT which had sought TRAI’s recommendations in terms of clause 11(1) of TRAI Act 1997 on:

    (A) ISP license (i) Rates for SUC; (ii) Percentage of AGR including minimum AGR; (iii) Allied issues like schedule of payment, charging of interest, penalty and Financial Bank Guarantee (FBG).

    (B) Commercial VSAT license (i) Floor level (minimum) AGR, based on the amount of spectrum held by commercial VSAT operators. The Authority said in 2014 it had suo motu undertaken the exercise of review of definition of revenue base (AGR) for the reckoning of licence fee (LF) and spectrum usage charges (SUC).

    Earlier, another Consultation Paper was issued on 31 July 2014 and Recommendations on 6 January 2015. The Recommendations, along with other issues, also contain recommendations on minimum presumptive AGR. In the Recommendations of 6 January 2015, the Authority had recommended that minimum presumptive AGR for the purpose of LF and SUC should not be made applicable for any licenses granted by the Government for providing telecom services. Paper is available on trai.gov.in

    Also read     

    TRAI issues consultation paper on AGR issues relating to Spectrum

    TRAI extends dates for views on AGR issues relating to Spectrum

  • Spectrum, VSAT licences AGR: TRAI discussion on 19 Jan

    Spectrum, VSAT licences AGR: TRAI discussion on 19 Jan

    NEW DELHI: An Open House Discussion will be organised by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India on its consultation paper on minimum presumptive AGR for Spectrum and VSAT licenses.

    The OHD will be held in the capital on 19 January 2017. The paper was issued on 17 August 2016 after a query by the Department of Telecom on 25 June 2014 and 15 May 2015 to which TRAI had responded on 2 March 2016.

    TRAI had asked stakeholders if spectrum assignment on location basis/link-by-link basis on administrative basis to ISPs be continued in the specified bands. On 19 September 2016, TRAI extended the date for comments to 13 October.

    The regulator has discussed issues relating to minimum presumptive AGR for ISP licenses and VSAT licenses and other issues raised by DoT which had sought TRAI’s recommendations in terms of clause 11(1) of TRAI Act 1997 on:

    (A) ISP license (i) Rates for SUC; (ii) Percentage of AGR including minimum AGR; (iii) Allied issues like schedule of payment, charging of interest, penalty and Financial Bank Guarantee (FBG).

    (B) Commercial VSAT license (i) Floor level (minimum) AGR, based on the amount of spectrum held by commercial VSAT operators. The Authority said in 2014 it had suo motu undertaken the exercise of review of definition of revenue base (AGR) for the reckoning of licence fee (LF) and spectrum usage charges (SUC).

    Earlier, another Consultation Paper was issued on 31 July 2014 and Recommendations on 6 January 2015. The Recommendations, along with other issues, also contain recommendations on minimum presumptive AGR. In the Recommendations of 6 January 2015, the Authority had recommended that minimum presumptive AGR for the purpose of LF and SUC should not be made applicable for any licenses granted by the Government for providing telecom services. Paper is available on trai.gov.in

    Also read     

    TRAI issues consultation paper on AGR issues relating to Spectrum

    TRAI extends dates for views on AGR issues relating to Spectrum

  • PVR Ltd: HC nod to two subsidiaries’ merger with parent

    PVR Ltd: HC nod to two subsidiaries’ merger with parent

    MUMBAI: PVR Ltd has informed the Bombay Stock Exchange and the National Stock Exchange that the Delhi High Court, vide the formal Order issued on 4 January, 2017, has approved the Scheme of Amalgamation entailing merger of PVR Leisure Limited and Lettuce Entertain You Limited with PVR Limited effective from the appointed date of 1 April, 2015.

    Justice Siddharth Mridul approved the scheme of amalgamation under which PVR Leisure Ltd — which operates in-mall entertainment, food and gaming joints, and Lettuce Entertain You Ltd — which is into the business of operating restaurants items — would merge with PVR Ltd, their parent company, PTI reported.

    In its directive approving the merger, the HC has stated that all the property, rights and powers of the two transferor companies shall be transferred to the transferee company.

    Under the scheme, the court also stated, “the entire paid-up equity and non-cumulative convertible preference share capital of petitioner company No.2 (PVR Leisure) is held by the transferee company directly, and the entire paid-up equity share capital of petitioner company No.1 (Lettuce) is held by transferee company through its wholly owned subsidiary PVR Leisure.”

    Also Read:

    Films Division shorts in cinema halls: Centre mulling revival

  • PVR Ltd: HC nod to two subsidiaries’ merger with parent

    PVR Ltd: HC nod to two subsidiaries’ merger with parent

    MUMBAI: PVR Ltd has informed the Bombay Stock Exchange and the National Stock Exchange that the Delhi High Court, vide the formal Order issued on 4 January, 2017, has approved the Scheme of Amalgamation entailing merger of PVR Leisure Limited and Lettuce Entertain You Limited with PVR Limited effective from the appointed date of 1 April, 2015.

    Justice Siddharth Mridul approved the scheme of amalgamation under which PVR Leisure Ltd — which operates in-mall entertainment, food and gaming joints, and Lettuce Entertain You Ltd — which is into the business of operating restaurants items — would merge with PVR Ltd, their parent company, PTI reported.

    In its directive approving the merger, the HC has stated that all the property, rights and powers of the two transferor companies shall be transferred to the transferee company.

    Under the scheme, the court also stated, “the entire paid-up equity and non-cumulative convertible preference share capital of petitioner company No.2 (PVR Leisure) is held by the transferee company directly, and the entire paid-up equity share capital of petitioner company No.1 (Lettuce) is held by transferee company through its wholly owned subsidiary PVR Leisure.”

    Also Read:

    Films Division shorts in cinema halls: Centre mulling revival

  • Jio HNY: TDSAT raps TRAI as contest deepens

    Jio HNY: TDSAT raps TRAI as contest deepens

    MUMBAI: Telecom tribunal TDSAT has ordered the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) to take a stand on Reliance Jio’s free 4G offer in reasonable time. A tribunal bench, comprising A K Bhargava and B B Srivastava, heard arguments of both sides — TRAI and Airtel — and posted the matter for 1 February, PTI reported.

    Meanwhile, other telecom operators in the country are scrambling to catch up. 

    The new TDSAT order came while hearing a petition filed by Bharti Airtel, against TRAI decision allowing Reliance Jio to continue with its promotional offer beyond the stipulated 90 days, alleging that the regulator acted as “a mute spectator” to violations. 

    Reliance Jio earlier chose not to respond to queries regarding its reply to TRAI that was expected on 29 December in connection with questions raised against alleged violations in extending its free offer till 31 March 2017 much beyond its introductory offer. After two emailed queries and phone calls from indiantelevision.com, Jio chose not to respond.

    Airtel had filed a petition before TDSAT accusing TRAI of being ‘sleeping trustee’ to the violations carried out by Jio. In the petition, Airtel had alleged that TRAI had “erroneously” concluded that since Jio’s promotional offer of free services was only valid till 3 December, it is consistent with the direction for 90 days.

    Jio, in a meeting with TRAI, had reportedly said that the latest offer was different from the previous offer as, in the former, the company provided 4GB of free data per day, but in the latter case, it restricted the free internet up to 1GB under Fair Usage Policy. Jio also stressed the fact that in the new offer if the data limit was exhausted, then one had to buy recharge vouchers, which was not the case in the initial offer.

    Meanwhile Airtel and Idea offered free data to woo 4G users eventually deepening the telecom price war.  Bharti said it would offer three gigabytes of free 4G data per month until the end of the year for customers who switch to some of its plans from other carriers and to existing customers who upgrade to 4G by 28 February. Idea Cellular is reportedly going to offer unlimited free data to topple Jio and Airtel’s plans. Idea, which ranks third in Indian telecom ranking, will now come up with new 4G data packs with an extended validity of up to one and half years. BSNL has also started offering unlimited free calls for six months at Rs 144. Vodafone and BSNL too have come up with cheaper plans.

    Also read:   TRAI violations query: Reliance Jio mum on ‘response’

  • Jio HNY: TDSAT raps TRAI as contest deepens

    Jio HNY: TDSAT raps TRAI as contest deepens

    MUMBAI: Telecom tribunal TDSAT has ordered the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) to take a stand on Reliance Jio’s free 4G offer in reasonable time. A tribunal bench, comprising A K Bhargava and B B Srivastava, heard arguments of both sides — TRAI and Airtel — and posted the matter for 1 February, PTI reported.

    Meanwhile, other telecom operators in the country are scrambling to catch up. 

    The new TDSAT order came while hearing a petition filed by Bharti Airtel, against TRAI decision allowing Reliance Jio to continue with its promotional offer beyond the stipulated 90 days, alleging that the regulator acted as “a mute spectator” to violations. 

    Reliance Jio earlier chose not to respond to queries regarding its reply to TRAI that was expected on 29 December in connection with questions raised against alleged violations in extending its free offer till 31 March 2017 much beyond its introductory offer. After two emailed queries and phone calls from indiantelevision.com, Jio chose not to respond.

    Airtel had filed a petition before TDSAT accusing TRAI of being ‘sleeping trustee’ to the violations carried out by Jio. In the petition, Airtel had alleged that TRAI had “erroneously” concluded that since Jio’s promotional offer of free services was only valid till 3 December, it is consistent with the direction for 90 days.

    Jio, in a meeting with TRAI, had reportedly said that the latest offer was different from the previous offer as, in the former, the company provided 4GB of free data per day, but in the latter case, it restricted the free internet up to 1GB under Fair Usage Policy. Jio also stressed the fact that in the new offer if the data limit was exhausted, then one had to buy recharge vouchers, which was not the case in the initial offer.

    Meanwhile Airtel and Idea offered free data to woo 4G users eventually deepening the telecom price war.  Bharti said it would offer three gigabytes of free 4G data per month until the end of the year for customers who switch to some of its plans from other carriers and to existing customers who upgrade to 4G by 28 February. Idea Cellular is reportedly going to offer unlimited free data to topple Jio and Airtel’s plans. Idea, which ranks third in Indian telecom ranking, will now come up with new 4G data packs with an extended validity of up to one and half years. BSNL has also started offering unlimited free calls for six months at Rs 144. Vodafone and BSNL too have come up with cheaper plans.

    Also read:   TRAI violations query: Reliance Jio mum on ‘response’

  • TRAI likely to appeal against HC order on draft broadcast tariff

    TRAI likely to appeal against HC order on draft broadcast tariff

    MUMBAI: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India could move the apex court challenging the Madras High Court’s status quo order on draft tariff rules for the broadcast sector that stopped it from issuing any further guidelines.

    The high court recently stayed TRAI’s right to decide TV tariffs. On 23 December, the court ordered that TRAI maintain status quo with regard to any tariff orders or regulations for Rs 54,225 crore Indian television industry. 

    Freezing of TRAI powers to decide television prices meant better programming and variety for the audience, ease of doing business and improved margins for the second largest TV market in the world.

    The order had come on a petition filed by Star India and Vijay TV on the ground that the TRAI orders are in conflict with the Copyright Act 1957. As a result of this court order and pending the full hearing of the case, TRAI would not be able to pass any guideline for issues such as broadcast tariff, broadcast interconnect, and quality of services.

    Also Read:    Maintain status quo on broadcast guidelines, Madras HC tells TRAI

    Also Read:    DAS 4 deadline extended to 31 Mar 

  • TRAI likely to appeal against HC order on draft broadcast tariff

    TRAI likely to appeal against HC order on draft broadcast tariff

    MUMBAI: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India could move the apex court challenging the Madras High Court’s status quo order on draft tariff rules for the broadcast sector that stopped it from issuing any further guidelines.

    The high court recently stayed TRAI’s right to decide TV tariffs. On 23 December, the court ordered that TRAI maintain status quo with regard to any tariff orders or regulations for Rs 54,225 crore Indian television industry. 

    Freezing of TRAI powers to decide television prices meant better programming and variety for the audience, ease of doing business and improved margins for the second largest TV market in the world.

    The order had come on a petition filed by Star India and Vijay TV on the ground that the TRAI orders are in conflict with the Copyright Act 1957. As a result of this court order and pending the full hearing of the case, TRAI would not be able to pass any guideline for issues such as broadcast tariff, broadcast interconnect, and quality of services.

    Also Read:    Maintain status quo on broadcast guidelines, Madras HC tells TRAI

    Also Read:    DAS 4 deadline extended to 31 Mar 

  • Highlight women’s rights, broadcasters told

    Highlight women’s rights, broadcasters told

    NEW DELHI: In the wake of rampant cases of molestations of women, even in public places like in Bengaluru recently on New Year’s Eve, the government has issued a directive to TV broadcasters and FM radio stations to highlight the importance of treating women with respect and equality.

    The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) on Wednesday sent out an advisory to FM radio and television broadcasters, which have signed the licence conditions and other government regulations, to air programmes on TV and radio to convey the message that women need to be “treated with respect and equality”.

    Both TV and radio broadcasters, the MIB said as per stipulations, need to broadcast public interest announcements for maximum of one hour per day suitable/proportional time slots interspersed during that day to highlight the women’s issue.

    For FM radio broadcasters, MIB advised two jingles of 60 seconds and 57 seconds duration should be aired. The private FM Radio stations were advised to broadcast the jingles at least twice a day during peak hours.