Category: TRAI

  • Trai extends the date for submission on ‘Issues Related to Low Power Small Range FM Radio Broadcasting’

    Trai extends the date for submission on ‘Issues Related to Low Power Small Range FM Radio Broadcasting’

    Mumbai: TRAI has extended the last date for submission of comments by stakeholders on a consultation paper issued by it on “Issues Related to Low Power Small Range FM Radio Broadcasting” . The paper was issued on 17 April 2023.  The deadline has been extended following requests from stakeholders.

    Accordingly, the Consultation Paper was prepared to seek the comments and views of the stakeholders on the issues related to low-power short-range sound broadcasting.  

    The last date for submitting comments was earlier fixed as 15 May 2023 and counter comments as 29 May 2023.

    Keeping in view the request received from the stakeholder for an extension of time for submission of comments on the consultation paper, it was decided to extend the last date for submission of comments and counter-comments up to 22 May 2023 and 5 June 2023 respectively.

  • Telcos to push DoT, Trai to make OTTs share cost of 5G network infra

    Mumbai: India’s telcos are set to once again push the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) to evolve a mechanism for making over-the-top (OTT) apps – that generate maximum data internet traffic — pay for creation of 5G digital network infrastructure in the country.

    The telcos are set to draw the government and the sector regulator’s attention to the raging debate underway in the European Union (EU) and Brazil on the need for OTT streaming/communication service providers – who benefit the most from use of telecom networks — to make a fair contribution for building mobile broadband connectivity infrastructure worth billions of dollars, amid rising costs.

    India’s telecom companies will point to the ongoing global consultations initiated by the European Commission (EC) and Brazil’s telecoms regulator, Anatel, and also underline the need for OTTs generating maximum traffic on Indian telecom networks to make a contribution to the required infrastructure investments, based on a fair share principle. More so, since the rollout of 5G networks is slated to drive exponential growth in data traffic and entail even heavier investments in connectivity infrastructure in future.

  • Ensuring a level playing field in entertainment: FICCI Frames 2023

    Mumbai: FICCI Frames 2023 is in its 23rd year. This year the FICCI FRAMES has its first Women Chairperson in Jyoti Deshpande.

    The day is filled with interesting topics and conversations around the Media & Entertainment sector.

    Tata Play MD & CEO Harit Nagpal asked,” Should regulation and levies be dependent on technology used, instead of product delivered? Is there a roadmap that we have to bring it in a level playing field across technologies which are delivering a similar product?”

    Terming it as an important and interesting question, Telecom Regulatory Authority of India chairman Dr PD Vaghela said, “Licensing is there for the dth operators, MSOs and LCO registration is there. Of course for the other kind of mediums, there is no licensing. I don’t know why there is no license fee for MSOs and LCO. That 8 per cent licensing for the dth operators, and very surprisingly there is no licensing for it. I think we’ll be handling this. We have done a lot of research on this. Very startling facts have come to our notice.”

    He further added, “Under TRAI Act, we have limited mandate. We can regulate only those service providers, to whom the government is giving licenses. To OTT, the license is not being given. I don’t have the mandate. We’ll see whether we should enter into this area and issue a consultation paper and make a recommendation to the govt. The way technology is changing, the way new players are coming, one simple way would be providing a level playing field in the form of a simple regime, whether it is in regard to licensing or license fee. One thing that we should be very clear about is, should we go for regulations for the new players. I generally would not like to see that new players are regulated or brought under licensing. It’s rather that the present players can be given some sort of relief. That should be our strategy, instead of unnecessarily burdening the new players.”

    Concluding the discussion, Vaghela stated that TRAI welcomes all kinds of suggestions because in the end whatever recommendations are made is based on the inputs that the regulatory authority receives.

  • TRA’s MDI Q2 2023: South Zone businesses continue to prioritize digital channels

    Mumbai: The Q1 and Q2 2023 comparison of marketing medium strengths in the South zone reveals a continued focus on digital channels, as businesses in the region prioritize targeting and measurement capabilities for their marketing efforts. TRA’s Marketing Decision Index (MDI) Q2 2023 is a quarterly benchmark report, the second in its series, and a global first that provides leading indicators through primary research conducted with 757 Marketing Decision Makers (MDMs) across 16 Indian cities between January and March 2023.

    Digital Advertising, Digital Search, and Social Media remain the strongest marketing mediums in the South zone, with strengths of 73.08, 73.43, and 70.52, respectively. Despite a decline from Q1, these platforms continue to outperform traditional advertising mediums in the region.

    Radio Advertising strength saw a significant increase in the South zone, rising from 34.33 in Q1 to 59.82 in Q2. This growth aligns with the trend observed in other zones, highlighting the resurgence of Radio Advertising as a cost-effective and region-specific marketing medium.

    National TV Advertising and Public Relations strengths declined in the South zone, dropping from 57.98 to 50.13 and 63.45 to 49.68, respectively. These decreases suggest a shift in focus as businesses in the region allocate resources to digital channels and Radio Advertising, shifting focus from conventional advertising mediums.

  • Kerala HC dismisses AIDCF’s petition in NTO 3.0 case

    Mumbai: The Kerala High Court has dismissed the All India Digital Cable Federation’s (AIDCF) petition that challenged Telecom Regulatory Authority of India’s (TRAI) 2022 amendments to regulations and tariff order.

    The HC had reserved the judgement on 7 March, after AIDCF, TRAI and Indian Broadcasting and Digital Foundation (IBDF) put their cases forward.

    In February, Disney Star, Zee, and Sony had stopped providing feed to operators who weren’t complying with the NTO 3.0. After a week-long signal blackout, the operators and broadcasters ended their feud on February 23. The IBDF and AIDCF had reportedly reached an agreement.

     

  • TRAI extends consultation paper on ‘Regulating Converged Digital Technologies and Services – Enabling Convergence of Carriage of Broadcasting and Telecommunication services.’

    Mumbai: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), has extended the deadline for receiving written comments on a consultation paper  “Regulating Converged Digital Technologies and Services – Enabling Convergence of Carriage of Broadcasting and Telecommunication services” issued on 3 April 2023 and 17 April 2023. 

    The deadline for receiving written comments from stakeholders on the issues raised in the consultation paper has been set for 27 March 2023 and for counter-comments up to 10 April 2023.

    In response to stakeholder requests for an extension of time to submit comments, it has been decided to extend the last date for submission of written comments and counter-comments untill 3 April 2023 and 17 April 2023 respectively. 

  • Trai extends date for comments and counter-comments on ‘Introduction of Digital Connectivity Infrastructure Provider Authorisation under Unified License (UL)’

    Mumbai : The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) has extended the deadline for receiving written comments on a consultation paper “‘Introduction of Digital Connectivity Infrastructure Provider Authorisation under Unified License (UL)’ ” issued on  6 April 2023 and 20 April 2023.

    The deadline for receiving written comments from stakeholders on the issues raised in the Consultation Paper has been set for 9  March 2023 and for Counter-Comments as 23rd March 2023.

    In response to stakeholder requests for an extension of time to submit comments, it has been decided to extend the deadlines for submitting written comments and counter-comments until 6 April 2023 and 20  April 2023 respectively.

  • Indian telcos may soon be able to build small towers without obtaining permission

    Mumbai : Indian telecom companies may soon be able to install tiny towers without obtaining government approval. 

    According to a news report , there may not be a need for approval for the installation of BTS up to 600W. 

    The government may soon release new regulations that would make this possible. 

    The telecoms would be permitted to build small towers on street lights, traffic lights, or other light infrastructure after the guidelines are made public. 

    The telecom providers would just need to self-certify the placement of minor towers in this situation.

    Obtaining government approval is typically required because telecom infrastructure may generate electromagnetic radiation that could be detrimental to residents. 

    However, in the near future, the telcos might not be required to request authorisation from the government for tiny towers and BTS of up to 600W. 

    The telecom regulatory authority in India, as well as the telecom department, has flagged the issue of poor customer experience to the carriers since the time they started rolling out 5G across the nation.

    This new regulation aims to address the call drop problem that Indian consumers have been experiencing since 5G service began to spread across the country. 

    Although 5G is quick and revolutionary, it has recently begun affecting users’ experiences because the infrastructure needed to support the network technology is insufficient.

    While getting 5G everywhere is a top priority for telcos, they also need to make sure that current users aren’t subjected to subpar network performance. To ensure that the nation’s telecom infrastructure might be densified, the telecom providers must deploy street furniture. 

    The government’s action should be able to address the issue of call drops, which has been brought up by numerous users throughout India.

  • Trai to release a new consultation paper on the regulatory framework

    Mumbai : Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) has planned to publish a fresh consultation paper on the regulatory framework concerns pertaining to broadcasters.

     It will cover the cap on network capacity fees, multi-TV tariffs, and channel pricing.

    In 4-6 weeks, this work is anticipated to be published.

    According to a report, the regulator will address the minimum subscription time for TV channels as well as the language and genre categories that MSOs and LCOs use to list channels.

    Late last year, Trai requested that the MIB set the multi-system operators’ renewal period at 10 years.

  • Trai extends date for comments and counter-comments on “Regulating converged digital technologies and services’ consultation paper

    Mumbai : The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) has extended deadline for receiving written comments on a consultation paper “Regulating Converged Digital Technologies and Services – Enabling Convergence of Carriage of Broadcasting and Telecommunication Services” issued on 30 January , 2023.

    The deadline for receiving written comments from stakeholders on the issues raised in the Consultation Paper has been set for 27 February, 2023, and the deadline for counter comments has been set for March 13th, 2023.

    In response to stakeholder requests for an extension of time to submit comments, it has been decided to extend the deadlines for submitting written comments and counter-comments until 27 March and  10 April, 2023, respectively.