ITV

Tag: DOT

  • Industry surprised on Deepak’s transfer from DoT, Jio connection refuted

    NEW DELHI: Senior Indian Services officer J.S Deepak, who is to take charge as the next Indian ambassador to the World Trade Organisation in June this year, has been removed from his post of telecom secretary in the Department of Telecommunications.

    He has been temporarily moved to the Department of Commerce as Officer on Special Duty (OSD).

    A telecom ministry official, when contacted by indiantelevision.com, sought to play down the change, saying it was a routine transfer. However, he declined to answer questions on why this was not announced the way other transfers are announced through the personnel ministry.

    Although the official denied any connection with the Jio controversy, industry experts expressed surprised at the abrupt transfer and said it appeared a very clearly motivated act.

    Interestingly, Deepak was moved shortly after he wrote to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India asking it to restrict the period of promotional packs offered by telcos, which is currently has a maximum validity of 90 days. He added that the Reliance Jio’s free offers have cost the government almost Rs 8 billion and that has affected the telecom industry. He pointed out to TRAI’s regulation which mentions that any kind of pack which is “promotional in nature” cannot be offered beyond 90 days.

    Deepak has earlier played the role of chief negotiator (India) at the WTO while signing the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership agreement, a global free trade agreement. Deepak also held an administerial position at DoT when it first introduced e-auctions during the 2010 spectrum auctions.

    Deepak joined the DoT first in 2008 as Joint Secretary and has also worked with various government departments overlooking policy. He earlier served as the chairman and managing director of State Trading Corporation (STC) of India, member of the board of directors of state-owned telcos BSNL, and MTNL.

    Deepak also holds a board position at the Board of India Trade Promotion Organization (ITPO), Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT) and the Governing Council of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI).

    He has also worked as a consultant with The Policy Project, a group of US-based institutes that looked into framing population and health policies. He holds an MBA from Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad.

  • Shifting to green tech: TRAI extends ideas date till 14 March

    NEW DELHI: Stakeholders wanting to give suggestions to the Telecom Regulatory Authority’s efforts towards the effect of telecom on climate change and green house gas emissions have been asked to send in their views by 14 March 2017.

    Stressing this is the last extension, TRAI said the counter-comments can be sent by 28 March 2017.

    Following a request received from the Department of Telecom, TRAI had issued the Consultation Paper on Approach towards Sustainable Telecommunications in mid-January this year. The paper has raised fourteen questions.

    TRAI had issued a paper on similar issues in 2012 and the DoT had in fact given directions on that basis, but new issues have cropped up with emerging technologies.

    India has the second largest and fastest growing mobile telephone market in the world. Power and energy consumption for telecom network operations is by far the most important significant contributor of carbon emissions in the telecom industry.

    Hence, it is important for the telecom operators to shift to energy efficient technologies and alternative sources of energy. Moreover, Going Green has also become a business necessity for telecom operators with energy costs becoming as large as 25 per cent of total network operations costs. A typical communications company spends nearly one per cent of its revenues on energy which for large operators may amount to several million rupees.

    Also read:

    Shift to energy-efficient tech; TRAI seeks ideas by 27 Feb

  • Clarify Rs 3,050-cr PoI penalty norms, telecom panel asks TRAI

    Clarify Rs 3,050-cr PoI penalty norms, telecom panel asks TRAI

    MUMBAI: The Telecom Commission as sought clarity from TRAI in the matter relating to the latter recommending Rs 50 crore per circle penalty on Vodafone India, Bharti Airtel and Idea Cellular in October 2016. The panel directed the department of telecom (DoT) to seek clarity from TRAI on whether the regulator can impose the penalty for violation for interconnect norms.

    The penalty was recommended by TRAI on the three telcos accused of denying interconnectivity to newcomer telco Reliance Jio. According to TRAI, the penalty for Airtel and Vodafone was at Rs 1,050 crore each, while for Idea it was around Rs 950 crore. DoT had earlier sought legal opinion from attorney-general on whether it had the powers to impose the penalty, to which he had opined that DoT could impose the penalty.

    A senior government official reportedly said the panel now asked DoT to seek clarification from TRAI on 10-12 points, including whether the 90-day period was given to the operators for providing point of interconnection (PoI), method of calculating penalty of Rs 50 crore per circle etc.

    Meanwhile, the panel has also okayed demand of Rs 2,834 crore to be raised from operators which provided services between February 2012, when Supreme Court cancelled their licences, and till the time they procured fresh permits after buying spectrum in auction.

    Experts said other issues that needed clarification included whether the penalty was reached after calculating congestion in the network on a monthly average and the fine was based upon the license as contract and not on PoI pact between the operators. Jio had in August submitted to TRAI that it will need 12,727 PoIs for mobile services and 3,068 PoIs for STD facilities before its commercial launch.

    Also Read:

    http://www.indiantelevision.com/regulators/trai/trai-hc-asks-idea-dot-to-file-affidavit-on-plea-170124

    http://www.indiantelevision.com/iworld/telecom/rs-30k-cr-to-enhance-jio-coverage-a-g-clears-dots-power-to-penalise-telcos-170114

    http://www.indiantelevision.com/regulators/tdsat/jio-hny-tdsat-raps-trai-as-contest-deepens-170106

    http://www.indiantelevision.com/regulators/trai/respond-to-vodafones-trai-challenge-in-two-weeks-govt-directed-170104

  • TRAI: HC asks Idea, DoT to file affidavit on plea

    TRAI: HC asks Idea, DoT to file affidavit on plea

    MUMBAI: Idea Cellular Ltd. has moved the Delhi High Court against TRAI’s recommendation to impose a penalty of Rs 950 crore for allegedly not providing interconnection to Reliance Jio (RJIO), even as Department of Telecommunications (DoT) said the plea was premature. 

    The DoT claimed before a bench of the justice Sangita Dhingra Sehgal and chief justice G Rohini that Idea’s petition was not maintainable as the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) had only given a recommendation, PTI reported.

    Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Sanjay Jain, appearing for DoT, opposed maintainability of the plea. Once DoT takes a decision, he said, it could become an appealable order.

    The bench, thereafter, issued notice to TRAI and DoT and asked them to file affidavits on the issue of maintainability of Idea’s plea before the next date of hearing on 21 February.

    Idea, in its request, claimed that it complied with the requirements of RJio for points of interconnections (PoIs). As of 19 January 2016, it allocated 19,175 PoIs to RJio and contended that congestion and call failures were a consequence of RJio’s “gross underestimation” of the traffic, volume, and duration of calls on its network due to its free offers.

    In its plea, Idea has also contended that there was inconsistency between TRAI’s Interconnection Regulations and Quality of Service Regulations.

    Earlier, terming it as “premature”, the central government opposed a plea by the telecom major Vodafone Mobile Services challenging TRAI’s recommendation to impose Rs 1,050 crore penalty for not providing interconnectivity to Reliance Jio.

    The government rejected the plea by Vodafone, which operates in 21 circles, against a penalty of Rs 50 crore per telecom circle recommended by TRAI. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India had suggested the penalty on grounds that Vodafone had violated terms and conditions relating to points of interconnection among service providers.

    Also Read:  Respond to Vodafone’s TRAI challenge in two weeks, govt directed

  • TRAI: HC asks Idea, DoT to file affidavit on plea

    TRAI: HC asks Idea, DoT to file affidavit on plea

    MUMBAI: Idea Cellular Ltd. has moved the Delhi High Court against TRAI’s recommendation to impose a penalty of Rs 950 crore for allegedly not providing interconnection to Reliance Jio (RJIO), even as Department of Telecommunications (DoT) said the plea was premature. 

    The DoT claimed before a bench of the justice Sangita Dhingra Sehgal and chief justice G Rohini that Idea’s petition was not maintainable as the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) had only given a recommendation, PTI reported.

    Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Sanjay Jain, appearing for DoT, opposed maintainability of the plea. Once DoT takes a decision, he said, it could become an appealable order.

    The bench, thereafter, issued notice to TRAI and DoT and asked them to file affidavits on the issue of maintainability of Idea’s plea before the next date of hearing on 21 February.

    Idea, in its request, claimed that it complied with the requirements of RJio for points of interconnections (PoIs). As of 19 January 2016, it allocated 19,175 PoIs to RJio and contended that congestion and call failures were a consequence of RJio’s “gross underestimation” of the traffic, volume, and duration of calls on its network due to its free offers.

    In its plea, Idea has also contended that there was inconsistency between TRAI’s Interconnection Regulations and Quality of Service Regulations.

    Earlier, terming it as “premature”, the central government opposed a plea by the telecom major Vodafone Mobile Services challenging TRAI’s recommendation to impose Rs 1,050 crore penalty for not providing interconnectivity to Reliance Jio.

    The government rejected the plea by Vodafone, which operates in 21 circles, against a penalty of Rs 50 crore per telecom circle recommended by TRAI. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India had suggested the penalty on grounds that Vodafone had violated terms and conditions relating to points of interconnection among service providers.

    Also Read:  Respond to Vodafone’s TRAI challenge in two weeks, govt directed

  • TRAI recommends e-KYC for outstation customers

    TRAI recommends e-KYC for outstation customers

    MUMBAI: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has issued its Recommendations on
    (i) “Verification of existing mobile subscribers through Aadhaar based e-KYC services”
    and
    (ii) “Permitting outstation Aadhaar card holders for e-KYC of mobile subscribers.”

    2.Aadhaar linked e-KYC service provides a robust mechanism to verify the identity of the person electronically and instantaneously from the source itself, based on the biometrics of the person. Thus, it takes care of the issues relating to fake/forged identity proof, manual entry into the system etc.

    3. In this regard, TRAI on 6th January 2016 recommended acceptance and adoption of Aadhaar based e-KYC service alongwith Aadhaar based e-Sign as a valid alternative process. Subsequently, on 16 August 2016, DoT permitted the use of Aadhaar based e-KYC service of Unique Identity Authority of India (UIDAI) for issuing mobile connections to customers. These instructions are applicable only for issue of new SIM cards but excludes the huge existing mobile subscriber base from the ambit of e-KYC. Further, use of e-KYC process was not permitted for outstation customers by DoT.

    4. The existing paper-based KYC process is not robust enough and the possibility of significant number of working SIMs, which may have been acquired on fake/forged identity, cannot be fully ruled out. The owner of such fake identity would not even be aware that SIM(s) are working in his/ her name. The Authority has received several cases from State Police (crime branch) wherein it has been found that hundreds of SIM cards have been obtained on fake documents. The existence of such SIM cards poses a real security challenge. It is essential that not only the new subscribers are enrolled through e-KYC process, but the existing subscriber base should also be verified through e-KYC process in a phased manner within a defined timeframe. Further, barring the e-KYC process for outstation customers results in artificial restriction and avoidable inconvenience.

    5. To overcome these challenges, the Authority has submitted its recommendations to DoT and the same have also been placed on TRAI’s website www.trai.gov.in. The main recommendations are:

    (a) DoT may work with the TSPs, to evolve a framework to verify the existing mobile subscribers through Aadhaar based e-KYC services in a phased manner and within a defined timeframe. However, this process should be optional to the service providers as well as mobile subscribers. The subscribers may have to be given some sops in terms of free talk-time or data to encourage them to undergo the e-KYC process.

    (b) Aadhaar based e-KYC should be permitted for outstation customers also at any place within the service area.

  • TRAI recommends e-KYC for outstation customers

    TRAI recommends e-KYC for outstation customers

    MUMBAI: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has issued its Recommendations on
    (i) “Verification of existing mobile subscribers through Aadhaar based e-KYC services”
    and
    (ii) “Permitting outstation Aadhaar card holders for e-KYC of mobile subscribers.”

    2.Aadhaar linked e-KYC service provides a robust mechanism to verify the identity of the person electronically and instantaneously from the source itself, based on the biometrics of the person. Thus, it takes care of the issues relating to fake/forged identity proof, manual entry into the system etc.

    3. In this regard, TRAI on 6th January 2016 recommended acceptance and adoption of Aadhaar based e-KYC service alongwith Aadhaar based e-Sign as a valid alternative process. Subsequently, on 16 August 2016, DoT permitted the use of Aadhaar based e-KYC service of Unique Identity Authority of India (UIDAI) for issuing mobile connections to customers. These instructions are applicable only for issue of new SIM cards but excludes the huge existing mobile subscriber base from the ambit of e-KYC. Further, use of e-KYC process was not permitted for outstation customers by DoT.

    4. The existing paper-based KYC process is not robust enough and the possibility of significant number of working SIMs, which may have been acquired on fake/forged identity, cannot be fully ruled out. The owner of such fake identity would not even be aware that SIM(s) are working in his/ her name. The Authority has received several cases from State Police (crime branch) wherein it has been found that hundreds of SIM cards have been obtained on fake documents. The existence of such SIM cards poses a real security challenge. It is essential that not only the new subscribers are enrolled through e-KYC process, but the existing subscriber base should also be verified through e-KYC process in a phased manner within a defined timeframe. Further, barring the e-KYC process for outstation customers results in artificial restriction and avoidable inconvenience.

    5. To overcome these challenges, the Authority has submitted its recommendations to DoT and the same have also been placed on TRAI’s website www.trai.gov.in. The main recommendations are:

    (a) DoT may work with the TSPs, to evolve a framework to verify the existing mobile subscribers through Aadhaar based e-KYC services in a phased manner and within a defined timeframe. However, this process should be optional to the service providers as well as mobile subscribers. The subscribers may have to be given some sops in terms of free talk-time or data to encourage them to undergo the e-KYC process.

    (b) Aadhaar based e-KYC should be permitted for outstation customers also at any place within the service area.

  • Shift to energy-efficient tech; TRAI seeks ideas by 27 Feb

    Shift to energy-efficient tech; TRAI seeks ideas by 27 Feb

    NEW DEHI: With the world coming to grips with problems of climate change and green house gas emissions, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India is in the process of preparing a strategy to tackle the problems created by the telecom sector in this regard.

    Following a request received from the Department of Telecom, TRAI has issued the Consultation Paper on Approach towards Sustainable Telecommunications. The paper has raised 14 questions on which stakeholders have to respond by 27 February 2017.

    TRAI had issued a paper on similar issues in 2012 and the DoT had in fact given directions on that basis, but new issues have cropped up with emerging technologies.

    India has the second largest and fastest growing mobile telephone market in the world. Power and energy consumption for telecom network operations is by far the most important significant contributor of carbon emissions in the telecom industry.

    Hence, it is important for the telecom operators to shift to energy efficient technologies and alternate sources of energy. Moreover, Going Green has also become a business necessity for telecom operators with energy costs becoming as large as 25 per cent of total network operations costs. A typical communications company spends nearly one per cent of its revenues on energy which for large operators may amount to several million rupees.

    The Telecom Sector witnessed substantial growth in the number of subscribers during the year 2015-16 and up to September 2016. As of November 2016, the subscriber base was 1123.95 million, out of which 1099.51 million were wireless subscribers.

    During the year 2015-16, subscriber base recorded an increase from 969.89 million to 1033.63 while the overall teledensity increased from 79.38 to 83.36. The year also saw density from 48.37 to 51.37 while the urban teledensity increased from 148.61 to 154.01.

    The Internet subscriber base in the country as on September 2016 stood at 367.48 million as compared to 324.95 million as on September 2015. This growth also leads to greater carbon dioxide and green house gases and the DoT is working on checking this damage to the environment.

    To develop the roadmap, comprehensive program and viability gap funding for mobilizing the renewable energy technology deployment in telecom sector, DoT constituted a Renewable Energy Technology (RET) committee which submitted its report on 1 August 2014. The recommendations of RET committee were further examined by a departmental committee which has submitted its report in May 2015.

    In light of the above mentioned reports of the Committee and deliberation thereof, DoT has sought recommendations of TRAI on the methodology of measuring Carbon Emission and calibration of Directives issued by DoT in 2012 and approach for implementation (Target on the implementation of RETs).

  • Shift to energy-efficient tech; TRAI seeks ideas by 27 Feb

    Shift to energy-efficient tech; TRAI seeks ideas by 27 Feb

    NEW DEHI: With the world coming to grips with problems of climate change and green house gas emissions, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India is in the process of preparing a strategy to tackle the problems created by the telecom sector in this regard.

    Following a request received from the Department of Telecom, TRAI has issued the Consultation Paper on Approach towards Sustainable Telecommunications. The paper has raised 14 questions on which stakeholders have to respond by 27 February 2017.

    TRAI had issued a paper on similar issues in 2012 and the DoT had in fact given directions on that basis, but new issues have cropped up with emerging technologies.

    India has the second largest and fastest growing mobile telephone market in the world. Power and energy consumption for telecom network operations is by far the most important significant contributor of carbon emissions in the telecom industry.

    Hence, it is important for the telecom operators to shift to energy efficient technologies and alternate sources of energy. Moreover, Going Green has also become a business necessity for telecom operators with energy costs becoming as large as 25 per cent of total network operations costs. A typical communications company spends nearly one per cent of its revenues on energy which for large operators may amount to several million rupees.

    The Telecom Sector witnessed substantial growth in the number of subscribers during the year 2015-16 and up to September 2016. As of November 2016, the subscriber base was 1123.95 million, out of which 1099.51 million were wireless subscribers.

    During the year 2015-16, subscriber base recorded an increase from 969.89 million to 1033.63 while the overall teledensity increased from 79.38 to 83.36. The year also saw density from 48.37 to 51.37 while the urban teledensity increased from 148.61 to 154.01.

    The Internet subscriber base in the country as on September 2016 stood at 367.48 million as compared to 324.95 million as on September 2015. This growth also leads to greater carbon dioxide and green house gases and the DoT is working on checking this damage to the environment.

    To develop the roadmap, comprehensive program and viability gap funding for mobilizing the renewable energy technology deployment in telecom sector, DoT constituted a Renewable Energy Technology (RET) committee which submitted its report on 1 August 2014. The recommendations of RET committee were further examined by a departmental committee which has submitted its report in May 2015.

    In light of the above mentioned reports of the Committee and deliberation thereof, DoT has sought recommendations of TRAI on the methodology of measuring Carbon Emission and calibration of Directives issued by DoT in 2012 and approach for implementation (Target on the implementation of RETs).

  • Rs 30k cr to enhance Jio coverage; A-G clears DoT’s power to penalise telcos

    Rs 30k cr to enhance Jio coverage; A-G clears DoT’s power to penalise telcos

    MUMBAI: Even as India’s attorney-general cleared a Rs 3,050 crore penal action against the leading telcos, Reliance CMD Mukesh Ambani is planning to infuse Rs 30,000 crore in Reliance Jio telecom venture which has caused a major disruption in India’s fiercely-competitive mobile market.

    The attorney-general is understood to have opined that the Department of Telecom (DoT) has the power to impose penalty on grounds of poor quality of service of telecom operators Vodafone, Bharti Airtel and Idea Cellular, sources told PTI.

    Reliance Jio, which reportedly had a subscriber base of 72.4 million at 2016-end, plans to collect funds via a rights issue that was approved at a recent board meeting, the Times of India reported.

    In view of the unprecedented customer response and to address the anticipated growth in demand for digital services, Jio stated, additional investments were proposed to be made into the network to enhance its capacity and coverage. The new funds will come on top of the Rs 1.7 lakh crore that Reliance Jio has already invested.

    The rights issue has been planned to be for six billion nine per cent non-cumulative optionally convertible preference shares (OCPS) of Rs 10 each for cash, at a premium of Rs 40 per OCPS. The amount subscribed/paid on each OCPS will be either redeemed at Rs 50 or converted into five equity shares of Rs 10 each at any time at the option of the company, but not later than 10 years from the date of allotment.

    The new entrant Jio caused a considerable disruption in the space. In broadband services, with 35.94 million (3.594 crore), Jio had, in October 2016, joined the top five subscribers list. No matter it is working out to the benefit of the consumer and helping the industry expand albeit at a much lower cost to the end-user, well-entrenched rivals now are on a slippery wicket. Meanwhile, other telecom operators in the country are scrambling to catch up.

    Telecom tribunal TDSAT has ordered the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) to take a stand on Reliance Jio’s free 4G offer in reasonable time. A tribunal bench heard arguments of both sides — TRAI and Airtel — and posted the matter for 1 February.

    Reliance Jio earlier chose not to respond to queries regarding its reply to TRAI in connection with questions raised against alleged violations in extending its free offer till 31 March 2017 much beyond its introductory offer. Airtel had filed a petition before TDSAT accusing TRAI of being ‘sleeping trustee’ and a ‘mute spectator’ to the violations carried out by Jio.

    Also Read:

    Darwin effect: 3-4 telcos may Jio after potential M&As

    Jio HNY: TDSAT raps TRAI as contest deepens

    Respond to Vodafone’s TRAI challenge in two weeks, govt directed