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Tag: Broadband for all

  • TRAI advocates help of cable operators to spread broadband

    TRAI advocates help of cable operators to spread broadband

    NEW DELHI: Telecom Regulatory Authority of India chairman R S Sharma said connectivity was vital for digital India and Aadhaar had built the foundation for online linkages, adding that cable digital television systems could be used to enable delivery of broadband.

    Speaking as the chief guest at the 2nd International Summit ‘India Satcom – 2016’ on the theme of Broadband for all using NextGen Satellite Technologies. Sharma admitted that certain ‘policy constraints have to be crossed.’

    He said internet connectivity in India was barely fifteen per cent, though wireless connectivity was growing at a fast pace through smartphones. There were only twenty million phones in the country but almost the entire country was connected through mobile phones. He also suggested the introduction of wi-fi at all public places.

    Referring to the Ka Band on satellite as earlier speakers had said the C-Band and Ku-band were already exhausted, Sharma said that the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India had issued a paper in this connection in April last year.

    The summit organized by the Broadband India Forum was aimed at showcasing the scope of catalysing achievement of socio-economic objectives with the use of innovations in Satellite Communications technology. It was supported by the Department of Electronic and Information Technology.

    Department of Telecom Secretary and Telecom Commission chairman J S Deepak stressed the need of satellites for reaching difficult terrains and said that a new network in ten states using 2,200 towers had been put into operation for this purpose. Twelve per cent of the communication in these states was through satellite.

    He said the Bharat Net Optic Fibre aimed to reach 2,50,000 gram panchayats in the next few years and 1,00,000 will be reached in the first phase by next year.

    Phase II aimed to reach the rest through underground optic fibre, towers, radio and satellite which had already connected ten to 12 per cent of the country.

    He also said that the country had adopted an liberal foreign direct investment regime with 74 per cent FDI being allowed in this sector. He claimed that India had received $ 200 billion in the last two years.

    He said 90 per cent of the 6,00,000 villages in the country were covered by mobile phones and he wanted internet proliferation to growth on the same path. He said that Internet had grown from 300 to 400 million (from 30 to 40 crore) in fourteen months. The only way to reach all villages was a combination of broadband and smartphones.

    All services that benefit people were expected to be online in the next two years, he said.

    He said all this presented great opportunities for satellite communications and said the policy environment was conducive for this and was being further changed for migration to new technologies.

    He said that even virtual network operator licences were not available in the country, he concluded, adding that ‘satcom is an idea whose time has come.’

    In a message read out in absentia, Indian Space Research Organisation chairman and secretary in the Department of Space A S Kiran Kumar said it was necessary to set up robust growth technology and the networks to receive this.

    Hughes Networks Systems president Pranav Roach said, “We know broadband penetration levels are extremely low in India. High throughput satellites are a natural fit to help improve broadband penetration. Satellite broadband is a proven technology, delivering high-speed services to users worldwide. Ka-band satellite-based networks are able to deliver affordable, immediate and ubiquitous broadband access to users.”

    He said it was ironic that India was the largest exporter of software but lagged behind in consumption, and therefore government had to step in to help the industry.

    BIF chairman M F Farooqui said “Broadband in India will have to be delivered not by one technology but through a mix of technologies. Satellite communication is one of the more important means of achieving broadband to the rural and remote areas and for fulfilling the goals of Govt’s Digital India initiative.”

    Phases X and V Satcast, USA, Chairman and CEO Ven Fotheringham said the cost of distribution, the increasing demand for more content through video and OTT, and the need for newer and better set top boxes were some of the problems that had to be grappled with. He said in the United States, 72 per cent of the content was generated by just 30 per cent experts within the country.

    The summit in different sessions deliberated on the deployment of satellite communication (satcom) technologies – existing and next generation – to expedite penetration of affordable Broadband in India, especially in remote, rural regions, to complement other broadband technologies such as optical fibre, mobile, cable etc.

    BIF president T V Ramachandran said “India has much to gain once broadband penetration, currently at a low 10 per cent or so, picks up momentum from new technology innovations and investments. Satellite sommunication technologies with its manifold innovations & applications could lead the country to the cusp of a digital revolution with associated boost to the efforts of other initiatives like Make in India, Skilling India and a spurt in FDI.”

    The summit deliberations also covered policy and regulatory issues to drive deployment of satcom technologies in support of national socio-economic programs such as Digital India, Make in India and Broadband for all. But such flagship programs need billions of dollars in annual funds – a huge challenge due to misconceptions surrounding satcom technologies. Though one of the fastest means to ensure Internet and Broadband connectivity across India, satcom is erroneously termed as unaffordable, inaccessible and, therefore, unavailable for deployment in India’s highly price-sensitive market. This is as erroneous as the early 1990s’ perception that mobile phones were expensive technology toys not needed by common people.

    The summit speakers stressed broadband service over satellite needed to be affordable (consumer price), accessible (all across India) and available 24×7 (both fixed location and mobile). Affordability is crucial because Broadband Satellite services in India are far more expensive than in the US (284 times on a normalized scale of package capacity, services price and pricing parity). Innovation, long-term commitment of public projects, liberalised policies that attract more local private players and foreign companies were important measures to curb costs and ensure affordability. These measures could also boost accessibility and availability.

  • TRAI advocates help of cable operators to spread broadband

    TRAI advocates help of cable operators to spread broadband

    NEW DELHI: Telecom Regulatory Authority of India chairman R S Sharma said connectivity was vital for digital India and Aadhaar had built the foundation for online linkages, adding that cable digital television systems could be used to enable delivery of broadband.

    Speaking as the chief guest at the 2nd International Summit ‘India Satcom – 2016’ on the theme of Broadband for all using NextGen Satellite Technologies. Sharma admitted that certain ‘policy constraints have to be crossed.’

    He said internet connectivity in India was barely fifteen per cent, though wireless connectivity was growing at a fast pace through smartphones. There were only twenty million phones in the country but almost the entire country was connected through mobile phones. He also suggested the introduction of wi-fi at all public places.

    Referring to the Ka Band on satellite as earlier speakers had said the C-Band and Ku-band were already exhausted, Sharma said that the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India had issued a paper in this connection in April last year.

    The summit organized by the Broadband India Forum was aimed at showcasing the scope of catalysing achievement of socio-economic objectives with the use of innovations in Satellite Communications technology. It was supported by the Department of Electronic and Information Technology.

    Department of Telecom Secretary and Telecom Commission chairman J S Deepak stressed the need of satellites for reaching difficult terrains and said that a new network in ten states using 2,200 towers had been put into operation for this purpose. Twelve per cent of the communication in these states was through satellite.

    He said the Bharat Net Optic Fibre aimed to reach 2,50,000 gram panchayats in the next few years and 1,00,000 will be reached in the first phase by next year.

    Phase II aimed to reach the rest through underground optic fibre, towers, radio and satellite which had already connected ten to 12 per cent of the country.

    He also said that the country had adopted an liberal foreign direct investment regime with 74 per cent FDI being allowed in this sector. He claimed that India had received $ 200 billion in the last two years.

    He said 90 per cent of the 6,00,000 villages in the country were covered by mobile phones and he wanted internet proliferation to growth on the same path. He said that Internet had grown from 300 to 400 million (from 30 to 40 crore) in fourteen months. The only way to reach all villages was a combination of broadband and smartphones.

    All services that benefit people were expected to be online in the next two years, he said.

    He said all this presented great opportunities for satellite communications and said the policy environment was conducive for this and was being further changed for migration to new technologies.

    He said that even virtual network operator licences were not available in the country, he concluded, adding that ‘satcom is an idea whose time has come.’

    In a message read out in absentia, Indian Space Research Organisation chairman and secretary in the Department of Space A S Kiran Kumar said it was necessary to set up robust growth technology and the networks to receive this.

    Hughes Networks Systems president Pranav Roach said, “We know broadband penetration levels are extremely low in India. High throughput satellites are a natural fit to help improve broadband penetration. Satellite broadband is a proven technology, delivering high-speed services to users worldwide. Ka-band satellite-based networks are able to deliver affordable, immediate and ubiquitous broadband access to users.”

    He said it was ironic that India was the largest exporter of software but lagged behind in consumption, and therefore government had to step in to help the industry.

    BIF chairman M F Farooqui said “Broadband in India will have to be delivered not by one technology but through a mix of technologies. Satellite communication is one of the more important means of achieving broadband to the rural and remote areas and for fulfilling the goals of Govt’s Digital India initiative.”

    Phases X and V Satcast, USA, Chairman and CEO Ven Fotheringham said the cost of distribution, the increasing demand for more content through video and OTT, and the need for newer and better set top boxes were some of the problems that had to be grappled with. He said in the United States, 72 per cent of the content was generated by just 30 per cent experts within the country.

    The summit in different sessions deliberated on the deployment of satellite communication (satcom) technologies – existing and next generation – to expedite penetration of affordable Broadband in India, especially in remote, rural regions, to complement other broadband technologies such as optical fibre, mobile, cable etc.

    BIF president T V Ramachandran said “India has much to gain once broadband penetration, currently at a low 10 per cent or so, picks up momentum from new technology innovations and investments. Satellite sommunication technologies with its manifold innovations & applications could lead the country to the cusp of a digital revolution with associated boost to the efforts of other initiatives like Make in India, Skilling India and a spurt in FDI.”

    The summit deliberations also covered policy and regulatory issues to drive deployment of satcom technologies in support of national socio-economic programs such as Digital India, Make in India and Broadband for all. But such flagship programs need billions of dollars in annual funds – a huge challenge due to misconceptions surrounding satcom technologies. Though one of the fastest means to ensure Internet and Broadband connectivity across India, satcom is erroneously termed as unaffordable, inaccessible and, therefore, unavailable for deployment in India’s highly price-sensitive market. This is as erroneous as the early 1990s’ perception that mobile phones were expensive technology toys not needed by common people.

    The summit speakers stressed broadband service over satellite needed to be affordable (consumer price), accessible (all across India) and available 24×7 (both fixed location and mobile). Affordability is crucial because Broadband Satellite services in India are far more expensive than in the US (284 times on a normalized scale of package capacity, services price and pricing parity). Innovation, long-term commitment of public projects, liberalised policies that attract more local private players and foreign companies were important measures to curb costs and ensure affordability. These measures could also boost accessibility and availability.

  • Telcos support net neutrality but root for checks on OTT platforms

    Telcos support net neutrality but root for checks on OTT platforms

    NEW DELHI: While supporting net neutrality and firmly holding that access should be made available to all on a non-discriminatory manner, the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) has said that there is a need to evolve the regulatory framework for Over The Top (OTT) communication services to prevent various regulatory imbalances between the Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) and the OTT communication players.

     

    It is response to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India’s (TRAI) consultation paper on OTT, COAI has said a “common regulatory framework for businesses providing the same services is the need of the hour and will benefit all players as it will reduce legal ambiguity and prevent unnecessary litigations.”

     

    At the outset, COAI said it welcomed the entry of OTT players and believes that they play an important role and offer many new services. However, the body added that, “it is pertinent to note that some of the services that are offered by the OTT players such as messaging/instant messaging and VOIP telephony are perfect substitutes of the services that can be offered by the telcos. These OTT players have rightly been classified by the Authority as “OTT Communication Services” players and their services are in direct competition with the licensed communication services offered by the TSPs.”

     

     The COAI wants not only net neutrality, but also net equality – the need to connect the one billion citizens of India, who are still not connected to the internet, by facilitating an open, inclusive and affordable access to the Internet, and with the same rules being made applicable to the same services.

     

    There is a need to review the regulatory framework and “we submit that the time is ripe for a comprehensive review to build a regulatory neutral, forward looking and transparent framework that ensures that the principles of “net equality” and “same service, same rules” are implemented.”

     

     “The need of the hour is to connect the 80 per cent of India’s population, which is still unconnected; and our campaign “Sabka Internet, Sabka Vikas” reaffirms our commitment to the Government’s vision for “Broadband for All” and Digital India, for socio-economic inclusion of all strata of the society. We believe a customer should be free to choose the device, technology and access platform – paid or subsidized, as long as the Internet is always open in terms of access in a non-discriminatory manner. Also, we offer choice and do not block or provide preferential access to any website or application, thereby safeguarding Net Neutrality,” COAI said.

     

    Some stakeholders have suggested that there are already adequate laws controlling the operations of OTT players such as Information Technology Act, Indian Penal Code, the Criminal Procedure Code etc. It is pertinent to point out here that such laws are general laws, which in its terms and effect apply to the entire country irrespective of the sector and framework in which they operate. While these laws are important and useful in a general context, they cannot be said to be a substitute of a common regulatory framework, which would govern and regulate similarly placed service providers and give them a common platform for the provision of services on common terms, which would ensure a level playing field.

     

    The telecom industry has already invested over Rs 7,50,000 crore in setting up world class mobile networks over the last 20 years and is looking at investing another Rs 5,00,000 crore in the next five years to roll-out into rural areas and also upgrade existing networks to connect one billion Indians to the internet. Moreover, going by the Government’s commitments, the Digital India Programme itself will require investments to the tune of Rs 113,000 crore. Additionally, the Planning Commission’s 12th Five Year Plan requires an investment of Rs 943,899 crore with 93 per cent of the total investment expected to come from the private sector.

     

    The Indian mobile telephony industry today, is in dire financial straits with a cumulative debt of over Rs 300,000 crore, and a one per cent return on investments, with many operators even making negative returns on their investments. This situation puts at risk the nation’s agenda of “Broadband for All”, as private operators will be unable to attract additional investments in the sector, required to support the ambitions of the government.

     

    COAI said there were various regulatory imbalances that existed between the telecom operators and OTT communication players. “We would like to submit that the TSPs bear the cost of infrastructure, spectrum, and payment of license fees and spectrum usage charges, which are not applicable to the OTT communication players. The TSPs also have the obligations related to roll-out, meeting quality of service parameters and security related obligations. Many of these do not apply to OTT communication players, which result in an arbitrage opportunity. The National Security and consumer security, safety and privacy are of paramount importance, and should not be compromised at any cost. The security framework has evolved over the years along with the growth and proliferation of telecom services and all the telecom operators provide these services under a strict licensing framework, including compliances with the security conditions and service standards. The extensive and stringent security conditions laid down and required to be met by the licensed TSPs are not applicable to the OTT Communication players. Most of the OTT players do not meet the encryption and decryption requirements of the Law Enforcement Agencies (LEA).”

     

    In response to a Parliamentary question on security threats from OTT applications, COAI said that the Telecom Ministry has acknowledged the fact that security/LEAs are facing difficulty while dealing with encrypted communication services provided by OTT service providers and the same may also be used by anti-national and criminal elements, posing a security threat. Lack of regulation on communication related application services could lead to serious national security and data privacy implications because they bypass the regulatory regime enforced on licensed service providers. Therefore, it is essential to ensure that the principles of “Same service, Same rules” are implemented.

     

    Referring to claims by some stakeholders that Internet Based Services (IBS) players should not pay for use of the TSPs network over and above data charges paid by customers, COAI highlighted that increased data usage fails to compensate for loss of revenues to TSPs arising due to OTT services. Further, these services demand high-speed networks that require substantial investment in infrastructure, particularly for the development of the broadband infrastructure both from the fixed and mobile perspective. “We hereby advocate for the Open and Pro-innovation Environment wherein pricing flexibility is provided to the operators and the choice is provided to the customers.”

     

    On traffic management for different OTT services, COAI said traffic management allows operators to secure their networks, prioritize time-critical services and match scarce network resources to service requirements. It is an essential function of networks to meet the performance expectations of different types of traffic to ensure better customer experience. Traffic management is a tool for consumer benefit not consumer harm as it provides a number of clear benefits to end users in terms of improved performance, innovation, consumer protection and efficiency.

     

    On the contention that TSPs should not be allowed to implement non ­ price based differentiation as it would be grossly uncompetitive and would kill competition leading to all traffic being cornered by a few, the Association said there is a need to look at the internet as a two sided market, which involves the consumer and the content app provider. The TSP is the platform that market together and needs to be given the flexibility of implementing based differentiation.