ITV

Category: TRAI

  • TRAI seeks clarifications with regard to spectrum allotted to Defence

    TRAI seeks clarifications with regard to spectrum allotted to Defence

    NEW DELHI: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has asked the Department of Telecom (DoT) to clarify whether discussions with Defence to release one block of 5 MHz is for the same block which has been already auctioned in five out of 22 LSAs or the discussion would result in release of one more block of spectrum, thus, making two blocks of spectrum available
    for auction.
     
    The letter from TRAI Secretary Sudhir Gupta follows a letter received from the WPC Wing asking TRAI to provide recommendations on: (a) Applicable reserve price for 2100 MHz, 2300 MHz and 2500 MHz bands for all the service areas in both the cases, that is, spectrum available in entire service area and spectrum partially available in any service area; (b) Auction of the right to use of spectrum in a band with varying validity periods (less than 20 years) so that expiry of validity period of right to use of spectrum in a band in a service area occurs at same time.
     
    TRAI has asked the DoT to provide information/ clarifications relating to the 2100 MHz band.
     
    The WPC has informed that at present no vacant spectrum is available with the DoT in 2100 MHz band and discussions with Defence are underway for release of one block of 5 MHz of spectrum. In its recommendations on ‘Valuation of Reserve Price of Spectrum: Licenses Expiring in 2015-16’ dated 15 October, TRAI had mentioned that the DoT has assigned the fifth block of 5 MHz in the 2100 MHz band in 5 LSAs and in the remaining 17 LSAs, the spectrum is available with the DoT.
     
    The Authority in its recommendations also recommended that entire 2X60 MHz in the 2100 MHz band should be made available for commercial use. If required, Defence may be assigned spectrum in the 1900 MHz band (1910-1920/1980-1990 MHz). It was further recommended
    that this matter is of utmost importance, therefore it must be taken up at the highest level and the vacant 3G slots should be put to auction along with the spectrum in 900 and 1800 MHz bands.
     
    In the letter, Gupta says TRAI will not be in a position to go ahead with the consultation process in the absence of full information with regard to total availability of the spectrum in the 2100 MHz band. Therefore, DoT is requested to indicate the decision regarding the above at the earliest.
     
    With regard to 2300 MHz band, the auction was conducted in June 2010 and two blocks across the 22 service areas were sold. However, even after four and half years of assignment of spectrum, no Telecom Service Provider has actually done any worthwhile rollout.
     
    Therefore, the Authority would like to know if in spite of such poor utilisation of earlier auctioned spectrum even after more than four years, the DoT believes that there will be takers for this spectrum at this point of time.
     
    TRAI had in a letter on 8 March 2013 informed DoT that in ten service areas, the guard band available between the spectrum assigned to different BWA spectrum holders is just 2.5 MHz, and this may result in severe interference in asynchronous TOO networks. TSPs have also suggested that the solution to the problem of interference in such a scenario can either be achieved by use of similar frame configuration (for uplinking and downlinking) or rearranging the assigned frequencies, so as to have a wider guard band.
     
    According to the present proposal of DoT, in 6 more LSAs, the guard band between different
    TSPs will reduce to 2.5 MHz.
     
    TRAI has also said that DoT may like to inform whether any study in this regard has been conducted to examine the concerns expressed by TSPs; and if so, DoT’s decision on this issue.
     
    Referring to the 2500 MHz band, TRAI says this band is very important and unique in the sense that it provides a substantial amount of spectrum (190 MHz) that has been allocated on a primary basis in all three International Telecommunications Union regions for terrestrial mobile communication. As per ITU-R recommendations there are three recommended frequency arrangements in this band. Most countries have followed an approach aligned with ITU Option I band plan (C1). The frequency spots in 2500 MHz band as shown in the annexure to the DoT letter are at variance with the Option I band plan of ITU which may result in the non-optimal use of the spectrum for all time to come. The decision on harmonisation of this band is pending for an inordinately long time.
     
    TRAI says there is urgent need to decide the issue so that this band can be used optimally for commercial as well as strategic purposes.
     
    According to current trends, the 700 MHz/800 MHz spectrum band known as the digital dividend frequencies and these bands are the ideal complement to 1800 MHz and 2600 MHz spectrum band using carrier aggregation techniques for LTE and LTE advanced technologies. The Authority in its recommendations of 15 October 2014 has recommended that the Government should announce the roadmap for auction of 700 MHz band before conduct of the upcoming auctions. The DoT may decide whether it wants to go ahead with the auction of spectrum in 2500 MHz band before conducting the auction in 700 MHz band.
     
    The letter says that DoT may also please confirm that it would like to go for auction without harmonising the band, in spite of the aforementioned implications.
     
    Referring to the validity period of right to use spectrum, TRAI has requested DoT to inform the ‘effective date’ of spectrum assignment for both administratively-assigned spectrum and auction-assigned spectrum for all TSPs in each of the service areas. It has also been noted that rollout obligation of TSPs is linked with the spectrum assignment that has been allocated for 20 years. Changes in the validity period will disturb the rollout obligations linked with the various spectrum auctions since 2010. DoT may indicate how rollout obligations are going to be ensured, going forward.

     

  • Growth in mobile broadband spurs internet use in August

    Growth in mobile broadband spurs internet use in August

    NEW DELHI: There was a sizeable increase in the number of broadband subscribers to 74.31 million by August-end as compared to 70.81 million subscribers by July-end, thus showing a monthly growth of 4.95 per cent.
     
    The largest growth rate in broadband was in the mobile devices users (phones and dongles) which went up by 6.29 per cent from 55.34 million to 58.82 million. The growth in fixed wireless subscribers (Wi-Fi, Wi-Max, Point-to-Point Radio & VSAT) was 2.75 per cent from 430,000 to 440,000. The growth in wired subscribers was a mere 0.06 per cent from 15.04 million to 15.05 million.
     
    The top five wired broadband service providers at the end of August were BSNL (9.97million), Bharti Airtel (1.39 million), Mahanagar Telephone Nigam (1.13 million), Beam Telecom (0.40 million) and YOU Broadband (0.41 million).
     
    The top five wireless broadband service providers at August-end were Bharti Airtel (15.14 million), Vodafone (12.51 million), Idea Cellular (9.85 million), BSNL (8.35 million) and Reliance Communications Group (6.53 million).

     

  • TRAI’s Khullar lashes out at DoT for delay in giving spectrum to Airtel and Vodafone

    TRAI’s Khullar lashes out at DoT for delay in giving spectrum to Airtel and Vodafone

    NEW DEHI: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has lashed out at the Department of Telecom (DoT), noting that it is “unable to understand the reasons for the inordinate delay in the assignment of spectrum despite the clear provision in the notice inviting applications fo the assignment of spectrum and after the payment has been made by the licencees.

     

    In a letter by TRAI chairman Rahul Khullar to Telecom secretary Rakesh Garg, it has been stated that the Authority is seriously concerned that this delay on the part of WPC in assigning spectrum in the 1800 MHz band may lead to a partial breakdown of services offered by  Airtel and  Vodafone especially in Delhi, the national capital.

    This will inconvenience consumers greatly. Both these operators have around 20 million subscribers in Delhi which constitute around 45 per cent of the total subscriber base of Delhi Licence Service Area. It is apprehended that in December 2014, there will be a serious deterioration in the quality of service to these subscribers because of call drops, network congestions etc.
     
    The Authority has suggested that the DoT should immediately call a meeting of both Telecom Service Providers and arrive at a feasible solution so that consumers’ inconvenience can be avoided.
     
    At the outset, Khullar said in the three metros of Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata, the first two CMTS/UAS licences given in 1994 are due to expire on 29/30 November 2014. These “expiry” licensees were holding spectrum in the 900 MHz and 1800 MHz band which was put to auction in the February 2014 auctions. Except Loop which did not participate in the auctions, other “expiry” licensees.  and Vodafone were successful in re-acquiring spectrum in these LSAs.
     
    In the Delhi LSA, Airtel and Vodafone, which were both having 8MHz in 900 MHz, could re-acquire only 6 and 5 MHz of 900 MHz band respectively in the auctions. Moreover, the spot frequencies now assigned to them are almost entirely different from the earlier different from the earlier assignment.  To make up for the shortfall int eh 900 MHz band, these TSPs have acquired additional spectrum in the 1800 MHz band, but it will require sufficient time to build a new network in the 1800 MHz spectrum.  In addition, in the Delhi LSA, Idea has acquired 5 MHz in the 900 MHz band, which has to be assigned to it after getting it vacated from these two TSPs.
     
    As reported by these TSPs, this whole exercise of change over of frequencies will need to be carried out in two stages. First, these TSPs will have to build a new network of 1800 MHz spectrum by putting new BTSs and augmenting the capacity of the existing ones. In the second stage, they will have to reduce their holding in the
    900 MHz band in steps and carry out swapping of spectrum andreleasing spectrum to the new entrant (Idea). Both of them will berequired to do rigorous planning and work in tandem. The above change  over  will be  a huge challenge  as all these changes are to be carried out on a live network catering to millions of subscribers and any lapse may result in service interruption and serious deterioration in quality of service.
     
    Anticipating the above challenges in mind, the Authority, in its recommendations on ‘Auction of Spectrum’ dated 23 April 2012 had recommended that the 900 MHz spectrum be auctioned at least 18 months in advance so as to enable the winning bidders to be ready with the deployment plans. According to the NIA of 12 December 2013 for the auctions of February 2014 in case of bidders whose licenses were about to expire in 2014, the effective date of spectrum assignment in 1800 MHz band, will be the preferred date of allotment of spectrum indicated by the successful bidders which in no case shall be later than date of expiry of existing licenses in the respective service area.
     
    Khullar noted that media reports had reported and Vodafone and Airtel had told the Authority that there has been inordinate delay in the assignment of spectrum in the 1800 MHz band. Vodafone says it has been assigned spectrum only on 10 October 2014, that is, after almost 8 months from the February 2014 auctions despite a number of representations to the WPC.
     
    In its representation of 16 October, Vodafone has indicated that it would require at least one week for the deployment of new frequencies assigned in the 1800 MHz band and 9 weeks for freeing up the excess 3MHz in the 900 MHz band in a progressive manner.  Subsequently, it would require another three weeks’ time for swapping of its frequencies in the 900 MHz band with Airtel.
     
    However, only seven weeks are left before the expiry of licences, Khullar noted.

     

  • TRAI brings out detailed paper on spectrum auctions

    TRAI brings out detailed paper on spectrum auctions

    NEW DELHI: The government should immediately take back the unused 900 MHz from the Bharatiya Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) and from the Defence Ministry the unused spectrum in the 1800 MHz band, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has said.

    In its recommendations on “Valuation and Reserve Price of Spectrum: Licences expiring in  2015-16”, TRAI has also asked the Department of Telecom (DoT) to have a fresh look at the implementation of E-GSM band.

    The entire 2×60 MHz in the 2100 MHz  band should be made available for commercial use.
     
    The government should announce the roadmap for the auction of spectrum in 700 MHz band. This   should be done before the   conduct of  the   upcoming auctions in 900/1800 MHz band.
     
    The MHz spectrum in 900 MHz band should be taken back from  BSNL from all the   Licence Service Area (LSAs), where licences expire in 2015-16 except in Punjab. In lieu, BSNL should be assigned 1.2  MHz in the  1800 MHz band only  in  those LSAs where its spectrum holding in  that band is  less  than 3.8  MHz in  this   band that is, in Gujarat, Rajasthan and West Bengal.
     
    Unused spectrum in the Defence band should not be kept idle. In the LSAs, where spectrum assigned to Defence  in  the 1800 MHz band is  more than 20 MHz, DoT should coordinate with  Defence  for the vacation of spectrum held by Defence in excess of 20 MHz.
     
    A dialogue needs to be held at the  level of the  Finance Minister, the  Minister of Communications and IT and  the  Defence  Minister to ensure the  availability of additional spectrum for commercial use.
     
    At the outset, TRAI said the DoT had in April 2014 communicated that some of the Telecom Service Providers’ (TSPs)  licences are due to expire during December 2015  and early 2016 and sought TRAI’s recommendations on  the applicable reserve price for  all  the service areas for  auction of   spectrum in 900  MHz   and  1800  MHz   bands. After getting further information from DoT on certain points, TRAI had issued a consultation paper and received responses apart from an Open House Discussion.
     
    The Authority has highlighted that the upcoming auction is critical for the Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) whose licences are due to expire in 2015-16. In  the 900 MHz  band, only  the spectrum held by  them is av ailable for  the  auction.
     
    These licensees will have to win back this spectrum to ensure business continuity in a LSA; if they  don’t, it places the  large  investment made in  the LSAs in jeopardy. The  continuity of services to millions of customers is also  at stake. In   this    backdrop, the   authority has  emphasised  the   need  to   make available additional spectrum before conducting the  auction.
     
    TRAI now wants that the auction should be carried only after  a clear roadmap is  available for vacating spectrum in  2100 MHz  band from Defence  and in  900 MHz  band from BSNL.
     
    The   forthcoming auction  should  be  scheduled  after   the   issues  related  to supply constraints are   resolved. Auctions in  the  800 MHz,  900 MHz,  1800 MHz and 2100 MHz band conducted simultaneously.
     
    Auctions should not be held in Maharashtra and West Bengal for 1800 MHz spectrum at this stage as spectrum is  available in very  few districts in these LSAs.
     
    The authority has reiterated its recommendation that the  frequency rearrangement in the  same band, from  within the  assignments made to the  licensees, should be permitted amongst all  licensees irrespective of  whether the   spectrum is liberalised or not. However,  the  use of spectrum shall be liberalised only if the entire spectrum holding of a licensee in a particular band is liberalised.
     
    All efforts should be  made to make available spectrum in  contiguous form. In its recommendations, the authority demonstrated how  such contiguity can  be achieved in 7  LSAs in  the  900  MHz band. Nevertheless, the  entire available spectrum should be put to auction.

    Spectrum should be  put to  auction in a block size of 2×200 KHz in both the 900 and 1800 MHz bands.
     
    In  the 900 MHz band, the bidders should be required to  bid  for a minimum of
    2×3.6 MHz in those LSAs where spectrum being put to  auction is  10 MHz or more and 2×2.4 MHz in the  remaining  LSAs.
     
    Fresh valuation of  1800 MHz  spectrum for  all LSAs  is the  preferred way  to determine value and reserve price  of 1800 MHz  spectrum (and  for  900  MHz spectrum also)  for the  forthcoming auction.
     
    The  average expected valuation of 1800 MHz spectrum of each LSA should not be lower than the  price realized in February 2014 auction in that LSA.
     
    The value of  900 MHz  spectrum in each LSA  is  subject to  condition  that average expected value in  LSA should not   be  more than  twice  the  value of
    1800 MHz spectrum in that LSA.
     
    The reserve price for  1800 MHz spectrum in Rajasthan LSA should be fixed  at a discount of 30%  on  the reserve price calculated due to availability of partial spectrum (as was done in  the February 2014 auctions).
     
    The   forthcoming auction  should  be scheduled after the issues related to supply constraints are  resolved. Auctions in  the 800 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz and 2100 MHz band conducted simultaneously.

    Spectrum should be  put to  auction in a block  sjze  of 2×200 KHz in  both the
    900 and 1800 MHz bands.

    In  the 900 MHz band, the bidders should be required to  bid  for a minimum of 2×3.6 MHz in those LSAs where spectrum being put to  auction is  10 MHz or more and 2×2.4 MHz in the  remaining  LSAs.
     
    Fresh valuation of  1800 MHz  spectrum for  all LSAs  is the preferred way to determine value and reserve price of 1800 MHz  spectrum (and for 900  MHz spectrum also)  for the  forthcoming auction.

    The  average expected valuation of 1800 MHz spectrum of each LSA should not be lower  than the  price realized in February 2014 auction in that LSA.
     
    The value of  900 MHz  spectrum in each LSA  is  subject to  condition  that average expected value in  LSA should not   be  more than  twice  the  value of 1800 MHz spectrum in that LSA.
     
    The reserve price for  1800 MHz spectrum in Rajasthan LSA should be fixed  at a discount of 30%  on  the reserve price  calculated due to availability of partial spectrum (as was  done in  the February 2014 auctions)
     
    To  accelerate the pace of investment, and to give  a fillip  to  the  penetration  of telecom services, the   reserve price   for  North   East LSA has been fixed   at a discount of 50%  on  the  reserve price  calculated.
     
    The Recommended reserve prices for 1800 MHz and 900 MHz spectrum are  as tabulated  below.
     
    RECOMMENDED RESERVE PRICE (PER MHz)
     
    (Rs  in crore)

     

    Orissa    c    23    47
    *Reserve Price   not   recommended as spectrum is available in very few districts of LSA.
     
    @ 900 MHz spectrum is not available j  not likely to be available in  Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and J&K  LSAs.  Hence, the reserve price has not been g1ven.

     

     

  • Tariff orders in case of DTH operators set aside by TDSAT

    Tariff orders in case of DTH operators set aside by TDSAT

    NEW DELHI: The Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) has set aside the tariff orders drawn up by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) in the case of direct-to-home operators.

     

    The judgment follows two separate petitions filed by Dish TV and Bharat Business Channel, in which TDSAT chairman Aftab Alam and member Kuldip Singh clarified that it will be open to TRAI to issue a fresh tariff order after taking into consideration the inputs provided by the appellants and addressing the issues raised by them.

     

    The Tariff Order had been issued by TRAI on 27 May 2013 under the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India Act 1997 read with notification of 9 January 2004.

     
    The petitioners have alleged that TRAI has no jurisdiction to fix the tariff for the supply of set top boxes (STBs) and there is basis for arriving at the price of STBs. Furthermore, it was alleged that even if TRAI had such powers to fix the tariff or rental for STBs, it has not been exercised lawfully, reasonably and in a non-arbitrary manner and after considering the relevant matters which are required to be considered in price fixation.

     
    Clause 4 of the impugned Tariff Order prescribes tariff for supply and installation of customer premises equipment.

     
    The stand of TRAI is that the operators are offering the services in a bundled form and can spread its costs on the bundled services which include the programming service. TRAI said ‘In view of this fact, the expenditure side of the hardware (CPE) cannot be seen in isolation of the pricing of the bundled service which includes programming service.”

     
    The Tribunal said there was an apparent contradiction in this stand and the main objective of the tariff order which is commercial interoperability. In other words, if a subscriber is not satisfied with the service of an operator or wants to change the operator due to any reason, it is not stuck with the cost of the CPE, it can return the CPE and get its security back at any time.

     
    “In our opinion, one way to address this issue can be to permit the DTH operators to supply recovered/refurbished CPE under the standard tariff order and the subscribers may not insist on new CPE if they want this tariff. However, we may clarify that this is just one example and the respondent is free to address the various issues as it may deem fit. Though all these issues have been raised by the appellants, in our view the same have not been satisfactorily addressed TRAI.”

     
    In view of the above, we find that some elements of cost have not been taken into account and issues raised by the appellants have not been fully addressed by TRAI.

  • TRAI to finalise views on AGR in four to five weeks

    TRAI to finalise views on AGR in four to five weeks

    NEW DELHI: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has sought a time of three to four weeks for finalising its views on the definition of Revenue Base (AGR) for the Reckoning of Licence Fee and Spectrum Usage Charges.

     

    TRAI Chairman Rahul Khullar said in an Open House Discussion (OHD) on the subject that the regulator had issued a consultation paper in July-end at its own insistence since the matter was important. Most of the stakeholders present felt that AGR should not apply to those stakeholders who do not need to apply for licences to operate.

     

    The OHD was attended largely by telecom players and internet service providers. From the TRAI, member Vijayalakshmi Gupta and principal advisor N Parameshwaram were present.  

     

    The paper had been issued following a multitude of cases by both telecom and broadcast operators to review the definition of Gross Revenue (GR) and the permissible deductions to arrive at Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR) in the context of the National Telecom Policy 2012.

     

    It was also aimed at examining the components of GR, AGR and minimum presumptive AGR, rates of licence fee and spectrum usage charges, formats of statements of revenue and licence fee and audit and verifiability of revenue and licence fee.

     

    The paper on Definition of Revenue Base (AGR) for the Reckoning of Licence Fee and Spectrum Usage Charges will also examine the changes made in the licensing regime, the transition from the administrative allocation regime towards market-determined prices for spectrum, and the conclusion of tenure of many licences. The paper provides the relevant background information on the subject covering various issues involved.

     

    On the definition of AGR specifically, the authority had in 2012 recommended that only the revenue from the wireless services shall count towards AGR calculation for the limited purpose of calculation of Spectrum Usage Charges (SUC) that would continue to be determined on service area basis, and should be levied only in respect of those service areas where the licensee holds any access spectrum.

     

    TRAI wanted to know whether there is a need to review/revise the definition of GR and AGR in the different licences at this stage; the guiding principles for designing the framework of the revenue sharing regime; and whether the rate of licence fee (LF) be reviewed instead of changing the definitions of GR and AGR, especially with regard to the component of USO levy in the interest of simplicity, verifiability, and ease of administration.

     

    The paper also wanted to know whether the revenue base for levy of licence fee and spectrum usage charges include the entire income of the licensee or only income accruing from licenced activities if the definitions are to be reviewed/revised.

     

    It has asked whether LF be levied as a percentage of GR in place of AGR in the interest of simplicity and ease of application, and should the revenue base for calculating LF and SUC include ‘other operating revenue’ and ‘other income’.

     

    The government prepared a draft licence agreement for International Long Distance (ILD) services in September 2000 containing a provision that LF was payable as a percentage of revenue. For the Public Mobile Radio Trunk Service (PMRTS) too, the revenue share regime was made applicable from 1 November 2001.

     

    The definition of AGR has been litigated since 2003. TSPs questioned the inclusion of various components of revenue in the reckoning of AGR as well as the legality of the definition before TDSAT. In 2006, TDSAT, after noting that revenue from non-licensed activities needed to be excluded from the reckonable revenue, asked TRAI to make recommendations on the inclusion or exclusion of the disputed items in the AGR. TRAI made its recommendations on September 13, 2006 and the Tribunal gave its final order in the matter on August 30, 2007 after accepting most (but modifying some) of TRAI’s recommendations.

     

    In the course of finalising the recommendations of the authority on the reference from TDSAT, the views of DoT were obtained by the authority through its representative and incorporated in the “Recommendations on components of Adjusted Gross Revenue” dated 13 September  2006. The authority was informed that the basic rationale adopted by the government while formulating the definition of AGR was that it should be easy to interpret – so as to pose fewer problems in application and less disputes and litigations, and to make it less prone to reduction in LF liability by way of accounting jugglery; and it should be easy to verify.

     

    The TDSAT’s judgment of 30 August 2007 was taken in appeal by DoT to the Supreme Court and was set aside by its judgment on 11 October 2011 on the grounds, among others, that TDSAT had no jurisdiction to decide the validity of the terms and conditions of the licence including the definition of AGR incorporated in the licence agreement. It was for DoT – and not TRAI and TDSAT – to take a final decision on the definition of AGR. The Supreme Court also held that a licensee can raise a dispute about the computation of AGR relating to a particular demand and that TDSAT can then examine whether the demand was in accordance with the licence agreement and the definition of AGR.

     

    The judgment of the Supreme Court settled important points of law and has clarified the nature of the contractual relationship between the Government as licensor and the TSPs. The judgment also laid down the parameters of institutional responsibility in arriving at the contractual terms and conditions.

     

    Litigation regarding the computation of LF continues before the TDSAT in the case of individual demands made on TSPs. It has also been reported that writ petitions re-agitating the revenue share definition have been filed by TSPs in different High Courts. 

  • LCOs threaten to boycott TRAI OHD meet on 29 September

    LCOs threaten to boycott TRAI OHD meet on 29 September

    NEW DELHI: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has called an Open House Discussion (OHD) on the draft amendment Registration India International regulations, the Standards of Quality Service (Digital Addressable Cable TV Systems) (Amendment) Regulations 2014.

     

    The meeting is being held in Delhi on 29 September and local cable operators and other stakeholders have been asked to register by 26 September evening.

     

    However, most local cable operators from different parts of the country have decided to boycott the meet, alleging that TRAI ‘management ran away’ in the last Open House Discussion.

                   

    Several organisations of LCOs from Gujarat, West Bengal and other parts of the country pointed out that many LCOs had come to Delhi on 24 September and alleged that ‘the management of TRAI does not have respect towards this religious faith’ and has given a deadline of 26 September for the next OHD despite the Navratri festival.

     

    It was pointed out to indiantelevision.com that even the next OHD was clashing with the festive season and not enough time was given to the LCOs to be able to get bookings to come back to Delhi.

     

    LCOs alleged that ‘there was no discussion and no LCO was allowed to share in a fair or justified way in the last OHD and it looked like some dictatorship where the authority only wants to levy amendment on the LCOs’.

  • Additional time for comments on regulatory framework for platform services as Delhi OHD ends abruptly

    Additional time for comments on regulatory framework for platform services as Delhi OHD ends abruptly

    NEW DELHI: An Open House Meeting in New Delhi on issues relating to the regulatory framework for platform services operated by television distribution platform operators ended abruptly when a set of cable TV operators insisted that other problems relating to LCOs should also be discussed.

     

    TRAI chairman Rahul Khullar assured the operators that time would be given after the agenda items were over, but the meet was ended abruptly after 45 minutes when no heed was paid to his plea and because of ‘sustained disturbance’.

     

    Later, local cable operators held a demonstration outside the venue and also filed a police complaint against TRAI officials including Khullar, saying he first invited them but refused to listen to them, and called the police to keep them under control. They also alleged he was only interested in appeasing the broadcasters lobby. 

     

    TRAI later said the meetings for the other three regions – Mumbai on 12 September; Bangalore on 16 September; and Kolkata on 19 September – were constructive wherein not just the issues on the agenda but also other matters relating to development of the cable industry, including digitisation, were discussed.

     

    In view of the abrupt ending and to enable stakeholders to make other recommendations relating to the regulatory framework for platform services operated by TV distribution platform operators, TRAI has decided to permit stakeholders to give any additional comments by 29 September. Platform services include the local channels shown on cable TV.

     

    The meeting in Delhi, organised for the stakeholders in the Northern region, was the last of a series of four open house discussions organised in different parts of India.

     

    The four OHDs were to enable the Authority obtain first hand information regarding the views and opinions on the issues involved from a wide cross-section of the stakeholders.

     

    Representatives of the local cable operators; multi-system operators; broadcasters; DTH operators; HITS operators; content creators; consumer organisations, research institutions etc. came for the OHDs. 

     

  • TRAI seeks to exempt small Internet Service Providers from tariff reporting requirement

    TRAI seeks to exempt small Internet Service Providers from tariff reporting requirement

    NEW DELHI: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has proposed exempting any Internet Service Provider (ISP) from the reporting requirement during a financial year if the total number of its subscribers is less than 10,000 on the last day of the preceding financial year.

     

    In a draft amendment to the Telecommunication Tariff Order 1999 for comments of the stakeholders, it has also sought to extend the existing exemption given to access providers in respect of tariff schemes offered to bulk customers in response to a tender process or as a result of negotiations between the access provider and such bulk customer to the ISPs also.

     

    Stakeholders have been asked to send in their responses by 14 October.

     

    TRAI is concerned that only 60.87 million broadband connections had been achieved against a target of 175 million connections by 2017. It says the country is nowhere near meeting the target for a service which is considered almost a basic necessity in many developed countries. Broadband is helping to deliver a wide range of services, from services directly related to the Millennium Development Goals set by the United Nations, to services in support of broader citizen participation or services leveraged across different sectors to bring more people into the formal economy. Therefore there is an urgent need to review the present policies and its implementation initiated to build infrastructure required for penetration of broadband in the country.

     

    The Digital India project aims to offer a one-stop shop for Government services which would use the mobile phone as the backbone for its delivery mechanism. The Rs 1,13,000-crore initiative seeks to transform India into a connected knowledge economy offering world class services at the click of a mouse. Plans to digitally connect the country will be supported by modules on digital literacy in regional languages which the Government plans to run in the next few years.

  • Concerned at slow growth of broadband in India, TRAI wants stakeholders to give suggestions

    Concerned at slow growth of broadband in India, TRAI wants stakeholders to give suggestions

    NEW DELHI: Concerned that only 60.87 million broadband connections had been achieved against a target of 175 million connections by 2017, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has issued a Consultation Paper to probe the reasons for this slow growth.

     

    One of the questions posed in the 78-page paper is to know the specific reasons that Internet Service providers are proactively not connecting with the National Internet Exchange of India (NIXI) set up in 2002 and what measures are required to achieve this.

     

    TRAI wants to know if the hosting of content within the country helps in reduction of the cost of broadband to a subscriber and what measures are required to encourage content service providers to host content in the data centre situated within India.

     

    It has also sought to know if public sector undertakings are ideal choices for implementing the National Optical Fibre Network (NOFN) project.

     

    The regulator has asked the stakeholders to send their comments 14 October and counter comments by 21 October. TRAI has also said that no further extension will be given.

     

    In its initial remarks, the Paper noted that the country is nowhere near meeting the target for a service which is considered almost a basic necessity in many developed countries. Broadband is helping to deliver a wide range of services, from services directly related to the Millennium Development Goals set by the United Nations, to services in support of broader citizen participation or services leveraged across different sectors to bring more people into the formal economy. Therefore there is an urgent need to review the present policies and its implementation initiated to build infrastructure required for penetration of broadband in the country.

     

    The objective of the Paper is to discuss issues contributing to the poor broadband penetration in India and solicit stakeholders’ views on actions required to be taken both by the Government and the service providers to accelerate the proliferation and use of broadband in the country.

     

    It says India has the intrinsic strengths for an Internet transformation, but concerted efforts are required to address key gaps in the Internet ecosystem.

     

    Consumers, entrepreneurs, enterprises and the Government can play a pivotal role in building a strong Internet ecosystem driven by the country’s young Internet-savvy population and strong local consumption, entrepreneurship and innovation, and a large pool of technically trained human capital. Identification of the impediments to expansion of this ecosystem and addressing these impediments to create an environment to encourage broadband growth is the need of the hour.

     

    The Digital India project aims to offer a one-stop shop for Government services which would use the mobile phone as the backbone for its delivery mechanism. The Rs 1,13,000 crore initiative seeks to transform India into a connected knowledge economy offering world class services at the click of a mouse. Plans to digitally connect the country will be supported by modules on digital literacy in regional languages which the Government plans to run in the next few years.

     

    But to be successful, a broadband policy needs to reflect the requirements of different communities across the country. This means taking a holistic approach and leveraging the opportunities provided by wireline and wireless technology in each part of the network i.e. backbone, backhaul and local access. The implementation of broadband plans and strategies needs to be monitored. Monitoring should be an integral part of broadband plans and strategies – providing an information base for the initial development of plans and strategies as well as for checking the progress of particular policies and programs, and for the evaluation and reassessment of priorities and strategies.

     

    The regulator wants to know what immediate measures are required to promote wireline technologies in access networks and what is the cost per line for various wireline technologies and how can this cost be minimised.

     

    What are the impediments to the deployment of wireless technologies in the access network and how these deployments can be made faster, it wants to know.

     

    TRAI recently released recommendations on Microwave backhaul and it wants to know if some issues were left out to ensure availability of sufficient Microwave backhaul capacity for the growth of broadband in the country.

     

    The pricing of Domestic Leased Circuits (DLC) had been reviewed in July 2014. Apart from pricing, TRAI has asked if there are any other issues which can improve availability of DLC.

     

    Should the awarding of EPC turnkey contracts to private sector parties through International Competitive Bidding (ICB) be considered for the NOFN project, the regulator wants to know.

     

    It also asked if there are any ways in which infrastructure development costs can be reduced and is it possible to piggyback on the existing private sector access networks so as to minimize costs in reaching remote rural locations.

     

    It wonders if the private sector can do something to reduce delivery costs.

     

    It wants to know the major issues in obtaining right of way for laying optical fibre and the applicable charges/ constraints imposed by various bodies who grant permission of right of way.

     

    It wants to know if the Government should consider framing guidelines to mandate compulsory deployment of duct space for fibre/ telecommunications cables and space for telecommunication towers in all major physical infrastructure construction projects such as building or upgrading highways, inner-city metros, railways or sewer networks.  

     

    Do cable operators face impediments to the provision of Broadband by them, it wants to know.

     

    TRAI has asked what measures are required to reduce the cost and create a proper eco system for deployment of FTTH in the access network.

     

    It wonders if there are any regulatory issues in providing internet facility through Wi-Fi Hotspots and the business model for these.

     

    What other spectrum bands which can be unlicensed for usage of Wi-Fi technology or any other technology for provision of broadband, it seeks to know, also wondering how much spectrum will be required in the immediate future and in the long term to meet the target of broadband penetration and what initiatives are required to make available the required spectrum.

     

    How can Government agencies be encouraged to surrender spectrum occupied by them in IMT bands and what should be the time frame for auctioning the spectrum in 700 MHz band, it asks.