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Tag: Depart of Telecommunications

  • TRAI releases recommendations to promote broadband connectivity

    TRAI releases recommendations to promote broadband connectivity

    Mumbai: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has released its recommendations on ‘Roadmap to Promote Broadband Connectivity and Enhanced Broadband Speed’.

    The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) as per the objectives of the National Digital Communications Policy 2018 sought recommendations of TRAI on issues relating to broadband speed and its categorisations, infrastructure creation, and promoting broadband connectivity.

    TRAI issued a consultation paper on 20 August seeking comments and counter comments from stakeholders. The DoT vide another reference letter dated 12 March sought consolidated and updated recommendations on the proliferation of fixed-line broadband services in the country. This included reference to additional issues relating to licence fee exemption and direct benefit to consumers. A supplementary consultation paper was issued on 19 May followed by an open house discussion.

    Based on inputs received by stakeholders and its own analysis, TRAI has finalised its recommendation shared below.

    1. Definition of broadband has been reviewed and the minimum download speed for broadband connectivity revised upward from the present 512 Kbps to 2 Mbps. Based on download speed, fixed broadband has been categorised into three different categories – basic, fast, and super-fast.

    2. To encourage lakhs of cable operators to provide broadband services, TRAI’s past recommendation on ‘Definition of Revenue Base (AGR) for the Reckoning of Licence Fee and Spectrum Usage Charges’ has been reiterated.

    3. To enhance mobile broadband speed in rural and remote areas by fiberisation of the cellular networks, backhaul connectivity on optical fiber using the BharatNet network with Service Level Agreements (SLA) should be made available to service providers.

    4. To incentivise investment in the last-mile linkage for fixed-line broadband, notify a skill development plan and an interest subvention scheme for cable operators registered as micro and small size companies.

    5. To enhance mobile broadband speed, the radio spectrum used for backhauling connectivity of cellular networks should be assigned to service providers on-demand and in a time-bound manner.

    6. Creation of national portal for RoW permissions to facilitate the expeditious rollout of telecom and other essential utilities infrastructure.

    7. Incentivise establishment of common ducts and posts for fiberisation of networks. In line with BharatNet Project, exempt RoW charges for the next five years of expeditious laying of common ducts and posts.

    8. A centrally sponsored scheme (CSS) to incentivise states/UTs for RoW reforms. Incentives to be linked to the net improvement in the Broadband Readiness Index (BRI) score of a state/UT.

    9. Mandates co-deployment of common ducts during the construction of any roadway, railway, and water and gas pipelines receiving public funding.

    10. To facilitate the sharing of passive infrastructure such as ducts, optical fibers, posts, etc., all the passive infrastructure available in the country should be mapped by each service provider and infrastructure provider using a Geographic Information System (GIS). The Telecom Engineering Center (TEC) should notify the standards for this purpose. Establishment of e-marketplace on a common GIS platform to facilitate leasing and trading of passive infrastructure.  

  • RS Sharma re-appointed TRAI chairman till Sept 2020

    RS Sharma re-appointed TRAI chairman till Sept 2020

    MUMBAI: The Indian government on Thursday re-appointed RS Sharma as the chairman of Telecom Regulatory of India (TRAI) till 30 September 2020 when he attains the age of 65 or till further notice. Sharma completed his first tenure as the chairman on 9 August 2018.

    This decision was taken today by the appointment committee of the cabinet and necessary communication in this regards has been sent to the Department of Telecommunications.

    Talking to PTI on Wednesday, Sharma said,”Some people take the line that if you are pro-consumer, you are anti-industry… that is far from the truth. Pro-consumer does not mean anti-industry. It is not a zero-sum game, one should be conscious of that.”

    Sharma noted that the telecom sector has undergone a “fundamental change” marked by operator consolidation, the explosion of data and fierce market competition.

    “There are concerns about the quality of service and those concerns, unfortunately, remain till date. TRAI has tried to do the best, within the framework of the Act.

    There is a new regulation on service quality that is granular and will be helpful…operators have also become sensitive to the fact that they cannot leave one area or tower unattended for long,” Sharma said.

    More recently, industry body Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) raised a red flag over TRAI’s new regulations on curbing pesky calls and messages, saying tailoring of systems, and use of blockchain technology will involve Rs 200-400 crore investment and 18 months for the rollout, at a time when the sector is financially-stressed.

    Sharma on Wednesday said that “reasonable time” has been given to the telecom operators on norms to curtail pesky telemarketing calls and messages. The rules, he said, came about only after a prolonged discussion with the industry.”I think reasonable time has been given…My position has been that the regulation has come after a lengthy year-long discussion process. It is not the knee-jerk reaction of TRAI, that it has issued these regulations,” Sharma said.