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Tag: internet

  • TRAI Net Neutrality OHD in Bengaluru on 25 July

    NEW DELHI: An Open House Discussion has been slated in Bengaluru later this month on the Telecom Regulatory Authority’s pre-consultation paper on Net Neutrality which had been issued in mid-2016.

    The OHD will be held on 25 July after which the authority will begin work on its final recommendations.

    In a pre-consultation paper on Net Neutrality to ensure national security and customer privacy issued on 30 May 2016, the regulator had asked what should be regarded as the core principles of net neutrality in the Indian context and what key issues are required to be considered so that the principles of net neutrality are ensured.

    The regulator has also asked what the reasonable traffic management practices that may need to be followed by telecom service providers should be while providing internet access services and whether there any other current or potential practices in India that may give rise to concerns about net neutrality or its misuse.

    Stakeholders have been asked about the precautions with respect to the activities of TSPs and content providers to ensure that national security interests are preserved, and customer privacy is maintained.

    The regulator says it had issued a paper on 27 March last year and after much discussion among stakeholders and the government, the Department of Telecom had asked TRAI certain questions leading to the present paper.

    At the outset, TRAI says that during the last decade, the telecom industry in India has grown tremendously, both in terms of penetration as well as connectivity. Today, India is one of the fastest growing information and communication technologies markets in the world, fueled largely by the cellular mobile revolution. Starting from a few million connections in 1997, there are more than a billion connections, with 97.5 per cent of them being wireless subscribers. With this, the overall teledensity in India at the end of 2015 stood at 81.83 per cent.

    India has also witnessed tremendous growth in terms of the total number of Internet users. At the end of December 2015, there were over 331 million internet subscribers in the country, of which about 94 per cent (over 311 million) were wireless internet users.

  • TRAI to hold discussions on net neutrality, spectrum in Mumbai

    NEW DELHI: Given the complicated issues around net neutrality, an open house discussion is to be held in Mumbai on 26 May, 2017on Telecom Regulatory Authority of India’s consultation paper on the issue NN and free data schemes. Earlier, a similar OHD was held in Hyderabad on 24 October 2016.

    TRAI had issued the paper in May last year. Another OHD will be held at the same venue on the same day on a consultation paper on spectrum, roaming and QoS related requirements in machine-to-machine communications.

    Stretching the discussion on net neutrality, TRAI had wanted to know whether there is a need to have telecom service provider (TSP)-agnostic platform to provide free data or suitable reimbursement to users without violating the principles of differential pricing for data laid down in TRAI regulations.

    It also wants to know if free data or suitable reimbursement to users should be limited to mobile data users only or could it be extended through technical means to subscribers of fixed line broadband or leased lines.

    The paper says that in the recent past, some data services plans of the TSPs came to the notice of TRAI, which amounted to discriminatory tariff through offering zero or discounted tariffs to certain contents of certain websites/applications/platforms. The objective of offering such plans was claimed to be the desire of various service providers/content providers or platform providers to enable people of this country, especially the poor, to access certain content on the internet free of charge.

    While TRAI is still to take a stand on the issue of net neutrality as a whole, American communications regulator FCC, under a new chairman, is dismantling some of the NN regulations put in force by his predecessor under the Obama regime that has ruffled the feathers of a section of the telecoms and broadcast industry in the US.

    Details of the TRAI open house in Mumbai and the related documents could be located at www.trai.gov.in.

  • Zubin Dubash joins Shemaroo as COO – new media biz

    Zubin Dubash joins Shemaroo as COO – new media biz

    MUMBAI: Shemaroo Entertainment Ltd. has appointed Zubin Dubash as the COO – New Media Business. He will be responsible for driving the New Media business and scaling it up.

    Founded in 1962, Shemaroo is an established filmed entertainment “Content House” active in content ownership, creation, aggregation and distribution with a content library of over 3000 titles. Shemaroo is engaged in the distribution of content for satellite channels, physical formats and emerging digital technologies like the Mobile, Internet, Broadband, IPTV and DTH among others.

    Zubin Dubash has 20 years of experience in managing businesses in mobile applications, telecom, and digital domains. Before joining Shemaroo, he was working in the core team of Apps Daily Solutions, as Chief Product & Strategy Officer and played an active role in product creation/innovation, strategy and Strategic partnerships. Prior to this he was at Tata Docomo as Vice President/Group Head- New Businesses. He has also worked with companies like Vodafone etc earlier.

    Shemaroo Entertainment director Jai Maroo said, “Zubin has handled both revenue and new business development roles earlier in businesses of scale. He has also been through the entrepreneurial journey as part of the core team of a startup of taking it from idea to execution.”

    Dubhash shares his thoughts on the occasion, “We are at an exciting juncture in the evolution of digital content consumption, and with Shemaroo’s rich spread of content there are a lot of opportunities that will emerge.”

  • Zubin Dubash joins Shemaroo as COO – new media biz

    Zubin Dubash joins Shemaroo as COO – new media biz

    MUMBAI: Shemaroo Entertainment Ltd. has appointed Zubin Dubash as the COO – New Media Business. He will be responsible for driving the New Media business and scaling it up.

    Founded in 1962, Shemaroo is an established filmed entertainment “Content House” active in content ownership, creation, aggregation and distribution with a content library of over 3000 titles. Shemaroo is engaged in the distribution of content for satellite channels, physical formats and emerging digital technologies like the Mobile, Internet, Broadband, IPTV and DTH among others.

    Zubin Dubash has 20 years of experience in managing businesses in mobile applications, telecom, and digital domains. Before joining Shemaroo, he was working in the core team of Apps Daily Solutions, as Chief Product & Strategy Officer and played an active role in product creation/innovation, strategy and Strategic partnerships. Prior to this he was at Tata Docomo as Vice President/Group Head- New Businesses. He has also worked with companies like Vodafone etc earlier.

    Shemaroo Entertainment director Jai Maroo said, “Zubin has handled both revenue and new business development roles earlier in businesses of scale. He has also been through the entrepreneurial journey as part of the core team of a startup of taking it from idea to execution.”

    Dubhash shares his thoughts on the occasion, “We are at an exciting juncture in the evolution of digital content consumption, and with Shemaroo’s rich spread of content there are a lot of opportunities that will emerge.”

  • TRAI experiments with investor-led duct-laying plan

    TRAI experiments with investor-led duct-laying plan

    MUMBAI: TRAI is helping out with a pilot project at Baijnath Dham (Deoghar, Jharkhand) where infrastructure providers have been invited to lay ducts based on demand of telecom, Internet and broadcast distribution service providers.

    TRAI is experimenting the investor-led initiative of facilitating the project in Jharkhand where ducts would be laid as per the next 20-year requirement and need of Internet, telecom and broadcast distribution service-providers.

    A TRAI official told moneycontrol that no digging would be permitted once the ducts were laid and the service-provider uses them. Companies might simply push their fibre into and via the ducts as per their requirements.

    The official said it would assist in cutting down operational expenses as the ‘right of way’ fees that was paid to administrative and municipal authorities while digging would also come down.

    The expansion of mobiles and data usage on mobiles notwithstanding, the idea of further spreading fixed broadband through fibre could not be secondary. If the idea was triumphed, on-demand services would be available and that would become a model for media cable companies, telecom and Internet service-providers to follow in rest of India.

    Also Read:

    TRAI advocates help of cable operators to spread broadband

    Government to link rural areas by optic fibre network for broadband growth

     

  • TRAI experiments with investor-led duct-laying plan

    TRAI experiments with investor-led duct-laying plan

    MUMBAI: TRAI is helping out with a pilot project at Baijnath Dham (Deoghar, Jharkhand) where infrastructure providers have been invited to lay ducts based on demand of telecom, Internet and broadcast distribution service providers.

    TRAI is experimenting the investor-led initiative of facilitating the project in Jharkhand where ducts would be laid as per the next 20-year requirement and need of Internet, telecom and broadcast distribution service-providers.

    A TRAI official told moneycontrol that no digging would be permitted once the ducts were laid and the service-provider uses them. Companies might simply push their fibre into and via the ducts as per their requirements.

    The official said it would assist in cutting down operational expenses as the ‘right of way’ fees that was paid to administrative and municipal authorities while digging would also come down.

    The expansion of mobiles and data usage on mobiles notwithstanding, the idea of further spreading fixed broadband through fibre could not be secondary. If the idea was triumphed, on-demand services would be available and that would become a model for media cable companies, telecom and Internet service-providers to follow in rest of India.

    Also Read:

    TRAI advocates help of cable operators to spread broadband

    Government to link rural areas by optic fibre network for broadband growth

     

  • Content a ‘Game of Thrones’; AT&T’s control over HBO, Cartoon Network, Warner Bros faces regulatory lens

    Content a ‘Game of Thrones’; AT&T’s control over HBO, Cartoon Network, Warner Bros faces regulatory lens

    MUMBAI: The global media landscape is resulting in a new juggernaut as an internet and cable behemoth yesterday purchased an entertainment conglomerate making the former unmatched in its size and reach to consumers through home broadband, smartphones, satellite television and a battery of movies and cable channels. This deal could lead to more cautionary flags than Comcast’s merger with NBCUniversal in 2009.

    The US$ 108.7-billion AT&T, Time Warner merger has been met with suspicion as analysts raised antitrust concerns that it would create unfair pricing and lead to further media consolidation. The
    cash-and-stock deal values Time Warner – with CNN, HBO, and Warner Bros Studios – at over $85 billion, and involves AT&T taking on its debt.

    AT&T, over a year ago, became the nation’s largest pay-TV operator when it acquired DirecTV. Now, Time Warner would give AT&T HBO, CNN, TBS, TNT, Cartoon Network and Warner Bros., Hollywood’s biggest television and film studio. The massive deal has become a subject of discussion in the US presidential campaign. Donald J. Trump, condemning the deal, said he would block it if he were the president, “because it’s too much concentration of power in the hands of too few.” Hillary Clinton has assured to be tough on consolidation and corporate megapowers.

    Although the latest merger is considered “vertical integration” as the two broadly do not compete against each other as compared to other “horizontal integration” of similar businesses, regulators could look at other ways AT&T might affect the media ecosystem if the deal were to consummate.

    AT&T may possibly make it more expensive for its competitors to gain access to HBO or Time Warner’s content or give preferential treatment to its own programming.

    A brief history of media/telecom deals

    1995
    Turner Broadcasting System and Time Warner announced a $7.5-billion merger, bringing together brands including Warner Brothers, CNN, Time magazine, and the Cartoon Network.

    2000
    AOL announced its plan to buy Time Warner for over $160 billion.

    2005
    SBC Corporation acquired AT&T for over $16 billion.

    2008
    Time Warner spins off its cable unit, which becomes Time Warner Cable (not a part of the current deal).

    2009
    Time Warner spins off AOL.

    2011
    Comcast receives regulatory nod for its $30-billion bid to buy a majority stake in NBCUniversal. Comcast took over NBCUniversalm completely in 2013, as GE divested its stake.

    2013
    Time Warner spins off its Time Inc magazine division.

    2014
    Verizon buys out Vodafone’s stake in Verizon Wireless for $130 billion, gaining complete ownership. Time Warner turns down $ 80-billion bid from Twenty-First Century Fox.

    2015
    Comcast drops its $45-billion bid to buy Time Warner Cable after the regulator opposes the merger over concerns of creating an Internet provider and a cable operator with too much control. Verizon purchases for $4.4 billion. AT&T gets government nod to purchase the satellite TV company DirecTV creating one of the largest pay-TV servicen providers to compete with Comcast.

    2016

    Regulators approved US$ 88-billion merger of Charter Communications with Time Warner Cable and Bright House Networks, creating the third-largest video provider and the second-largest broadband
    provider. (Comcast purchased DreamWorks Animation for $3.8 billion to compete against Disney.) Time Warner bought a 10 per cent stake in Hulu for $583 million.

    Yahoo and Verizon announced a $4.8-billion merger that would give the latter ownership of the former’s Internet assets. AT&T acquires Time Warner.

    Regulators could seek promises from AT&T and Time Warner to make content from HBO like “Game of Thrones” or cable networks like CNN available through apps or through streaming, not withholding them from competitors, which could be addressed in conditions attached to an approval.

  • Content a ‘Game of Thrones’; AT&T’s control over HBO, Cartoon Network, Warner Bros faces regulatory lens

    Content a ‘Game of Thrones’; AT&T’s control over HBO, Cartoon Network, Warner Bros faces regulatory lens

    MUMBAI: The global media landscape is resulting in a new juggernaut as an internet and cable behemoth yesterday purchased an entertainment conglomerate making the former unmatched in its size and reach to consumers through home broadband, smartphones, satellite television and a battery of movies and cable channels. This deal could lead to more cautionary flags than Comcast’s merger with NBCUniversal in 2009.

    The US$ 108.7-billion AT&T, Time Warner merger has been met with suspicion as analysts raised antitrust concerns that it would create unfair pricing and lead to further media consolidation. The
    cash-and-stock deal values Time Warner – with CNN, HBO, and Warner Bros Studios – at over $85 billion, and involves AT&T taking on its debt.

    AT&T, over a year ago, became the nation’s largest pay-TV operator when it acquired DirecTV. Now, Time Warner would give AT&T HBO, CNN, TBS, TNT, Cartoon Network and Warner Bros., Hollywood’s biggest television and film studio. The massive deal has become a subject of discussion in the US presidential campaign. Donald J. Trump, condemning the deal, said he would block it if he were the president, “because it’s too much concentration of power in the hands of too few.” Hillary Clinton has assured to be tough on consolidation and corporate megapowers.

    Although the latest merger is considered “vertical integration” as the two broadly do not compete against each other as compared to other “horizontal integration” of similar businesses, regulators could look at other ways AT&T might affect the media ecosystem if the deal were to consummate.

    AT&T may possibly make it more expensive for its competitors to gain access to HBO or Time Warner’s content or give preferential treatment to its own programming.

    A brief history of media/telecom deals

    1995
    Turner Broadcasting System and Time Warner announced a $7.5-billion merger, bringing together brands including Warner Brothers, CNN, Time magazine, and the Cartoon Network.

    2000
    AOL announced its plan to buy Time Warner for over $160 billion.

    2005
    SBC Corporation acquired AT&T for over $16 billion.

    2008
    Time Warner spins off its cable unit, which becomes Time Warner Cable (not a part of the current deal).

    2009
    Time Warner spins off AOL.

    2011
    Comcast receives regulatory nod for its $30-billion bid to buy a majority stake in NBCUniversal. Comcast took over NBCUniversalm completely in 2013, as GE divested its stake.

    2013
    Time Warner spins off its Time Inc magazine division.

    2014
    Verizon buys out Vodafone’s stake in Verizon Wireless for $130 billion, gaining complete ownership. Time Warner turns down $ 80-billion bid from Twenty-First Century Fox.

    2015
    Comcast drops its $45-billion bid to buy Time Warner Cable after the regulator opposes the merger over concerns of creating an Internet provider and a cable operator with too much control. Verizon purchases for $4.4 billion. AT&T gets government nod to purchase the satellite TV company DirecTV creating one of the largest pay-TV servicen providers to compete with Comcast.

    2016

    Regulators approved US$ 88-billion merger of Charter Communications with Time Warner Cable and Bright House Networks, creating the third-largest video provider and the second-largest broadband
    provider. (Comcast purchased DreamWorks Animation for $3.8 billion to compete against Disney.) Time Warner bought a 10 per cent stake in Hulu for $583 million.

    Yahoo and Verizon announced a $4.8-billion merger that would give the latter ownership of the former’s Internet assets. AT&T acquires Time Warner.

    Regulators could seek promises from AT&T and Time Warner to make content from HBO like “Game of Thrones” or cable networks like CNN available through apps or through streaming, not withholding them from competitors, which could be addressed in conditions attached to an approval.

  • Free data, net neutrality: Discussion on TRAI paper to be held

    Free data, net neutrality: Discussion on TRAI paper to be held

    NEW DELHI: Given the complicated issues around net neutrality, an open house discussion is to be held in Hyderabad this month on Telecom Regulatory Authority of India’s consultation paper on free data. The OHD will be held at Hotel Trident in the Telangana capital on 24 October 2016.

    On 14 June, TRAI had given more time to stakeholders to send in their comments and counter comments to the paper issued on 19 May 2016 with final replies to come in by mid-July.

    Stretching the discussion on net neutrality, TRAI wants to know whether there is a need to have TSP agnostic platform to provide free data or suitable reimbursement to users without violating the principles of Differential Pricing for Data laid down by TRAI.

    It also wants to know if free data or suitable reimbursement to users should be limited to mobile data users only or could it be extended through technical means to subscribers of fixed line broadband or leased line.

    The paper says that in the recent past, some data services plans of the Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) came to the notice of TRAI which amounted to discriminatory tariff through offering zero or discounted tariffs to certain contents of certain websites/applications/platforms. The objective of offering such plans was claimed to be the desire of various service providers/content providers or platform providers to enable people of this country, especially the poor, to access certain content on the internet free of charge.

  • Free data, net neutrality: Discussion on TRAI paper to be held

    Free data, net neutrality: Discussion on TRAI paper to be held

    NEW DELHI: Given the complicated issues around net neutrality, an open house discussion is to be held in Hyderabad this month on Telecom Regulatory Authority of India’s consultation paper on free data. The OHD will be held at Hotel Trident in the Telangana capital on 24 October 2016.

    On 14 June, TRAI had given more time to stakeholders to send in their comments and counter comments to the paper issued on 19 May 2016 with final replies to come in by mid-July.

    Stretching the discussion on net neutrality, TRAI wants to know whether there is a need to have TSP agnostic platform to provide free data or suitable reimbursement to users without violating the principles of Differential Pricing for Data laid down by TRAI.

    It also wants to know if free data or suitable reimbursement to users should be limited to mobile data users only or could it be extended through technical means to subscribers of fixed line broadband or leased line.

    The paper says that in the recent past, some data services plans of the Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) came to the notice of TRAI which amounted to discriminatory tariff through offering zero or discounted tariffs to certain contents of certain websites/applications/platforms. The objective of offering such plans was claimed to be the desire of various service providers/content providers or platform providers to enable people of this country, especially the poor, to access certain content on the internet free of charge.