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Tag: access service providers

  • TRAI recommends liberalised internet telephony and emergency services

    TRAI recommends liberalised internet telephony and emergency services

    NEW DELHI: Internet telephony services can be provided by access service providers to its subscribers who may be using Internet of other access service providers as Internet Telephony service is un-tethered from the underlying access network.

    In its final recommendations on internet telephony, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has said that the Department of Telecom (DoT) should issue a clarification to the effect since this is the authority’s understanding of present access service licences.

    However, if the DoT has a different understanding, the authority recommends that the DoT may issue an amendment to access service licences so that Internet telephony service is un-tethered from the underlying access Network.

    TRAI had issued a consultation paper on the Regulatory Framework on Internet Telephony on 22 June 2016 issued after noting that unified IP based backbone and the benefits associated with the converged telecom access has enabled service providers to launch several converged services such as internet telephony, IPTV, mobile TV etc.

    In the consultation paper, TRAI had also pointed out that the use of internet protocol (IP)-based networks, including the internet, continues to grow around the world due to the multitude of applications it supports and particularly due to Voice Over IP (VoIP). IP-based networks are capable of providing real-time services such as voice and video telephony as well as non real-time services such as email and are driven by faster internet connections, widespread take-up in broadband and the emergence of new technologies.

    The final recommendations also say that the UL (VNO) licensee with access service authorisation should also be allowed to provide un-tethered  Internet Telephony in the designated service area.

    Internet Telephony calls originated by International out roamers from international locations should be handed over at the international gateway of licensed ILDOs and international termination charges should be paid to the terminating access service provider. In case the access provider is not able to ensure that internet telephony call originated outside the country is coming through ILDO gateway, international out-roaming to internet telephony subscribers of the access provider should not be allowed.

    A service provider should use the mobile numbering series for providing internet telephony. TSPs should be allowed to allocate same number to the subscriber for both cellular mobile service and internet telephony service.

    A service provider may also use the SDCA linked numbering series for providing internet   telephony. However, in this case, mobility should be limited to consumer premises.

    The access service providers providing Internet Telephony service  may be encouraged to facilitate access to emergency number calls using location  services; however, they may not  be mandated to provide  such services at present. The subscribers may be informed about the limitations of providing access to emergency services to internet telephony subscribers in unambiguous terms.

    Full recommendations can be seen on www.trai.gov.in

     

  • Reduced ceiling tariffs for Domestic Leased Circuits to boost broadband and e-governance

    Reduced ceiling tariffs for Domestic Leased Circuits to boost broadband and e-governance

    NEW DELHI: In a step aimed at boosting usage of broadband, Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has reduced ceiling tariffs for Point-to-Point Domestic Leased Circuits (P2P-DLCs) of E1 (2Mbps), DS3 (45 Mbps) and STM-1 (155 Mbps) capacities and has brought DLCs of STM-4 (622 Mbps) capacity under tariff regulation.

     

    The tariffs for a Domestic Leased Circuit (DLC) of less than E1 capacity have been left under forbearance. The revised tariff regime for DLCs will come into effect from 1 August.

     

    A leased circuit is a two-way link for the exclusive use of a subscriber regardless of the way it is used by the subscriber. A leased circuit having both its end-links within India is termed as DLC. Since DLCs provide the backbone for not only the telecommunication services sector but also a host of knowledge based industries, these are arguably key inputs for the economic growth of the country.

     

    Under the present licensing regime, both national long distance operators (NLDOs) and access service providers (ASPs) can provide DLCs. The DLCs form crucial building blocks for the delivery of various services like e-commerce, e-governance, Internet access for the masses and knowledge based industries like business process outsourcing (BPO), information technology (IT) and information technology enabled eervices (ITES) industries. Enterprises, having their offices spread out in the country, lease-in bandwidth capacities (i.e. DLCs) from the TSPs to carry their data and voice traffic.

     

    Besides, telecom service providers (TSPs) who do not own sufficient transmission infrastructure in any geographical area also lease-in DLCs in order to provide various telecommunication services to their customers.

     

    Since 1999, the tariffs for P2P-DLCs have been regulated in the form of ceiling tariffs on the basis of capacity and distance. The tariffs for DLCs were last revised in the year 2005. The present exercise to review tariffs for DLCs was initiated by TRAI earlier this year in the context of decline in per unit costs of providing DLCs due to (i) increase in demand, (ii) increase in transmission infrastructure and (iii) increase in the bandwidth carrying capacity of transmission media, and signs of lack of competition in some parts of the country.

     

    After following a comprehensive consultation process, the Authority, through the TTO (57th Amendment), 2014, has brought about the following changes in the tariff regime for DLCs:

     

    (a) Tariffs for DLCs of less than E1 capacity have been kept under forbearance.

     

    (b) Ceiling tariffs for DLCs of E1, DS-3 and STM-1 capacities have been reduced.

     

    (c) The DLCs of STM-4 capacity, tariff for which was under forbearance, have been brought under tariff regulation by way of prescription of ceiling tariffs.

     

    With the implementation of the reduced ceiling tariffs, the customers seeking DLCs on the thin routes connecting small cities, remote and hilly areas etc. (i.e. the routes which are not sufficiently competitive) would be benefited.