ITV

Tag: J S Deepak

  • TRAI rejects complaint against free promos, says consumer comes first

    NEW DELHI: The Telecom Commission’s contention that free promotional offers are responsible for the industry’s falling financial health and lower licence fee payments to the government has been rejected by the regulator Telecom Regulatory Authority of India.

    TRAI’s response is expected to be sent to the Commission next week.

    The response to the Commission’s letter dated 23 February 2017 on the lines that tariff and tariff orders, solely under the regulator’s purview, need to be seen in the broader context of consumer interest.

    TRAI feels it is responsible for tariffs and anyone having an objection is free to approach the telecom tribunal TDSAT, TRAI sources said.

    In any event, TRAI feels that the government’s objective cannot be revenue maximisation. Higher tariffs can lead to greater accruals for the government from licence fee, but there is social obligation. So, revenue reduction should not been seen with a myopic view, but in the context of larger policy objectives and long—term interest of consumers, the sources said.

    Stressing that competition in the telecom sector had resulted in better tariffs and services for consumers, the source said, “competition may be disruptive, but it also leads to cheaper tariffs for consumers“.

    Defending its stance on allowing Reliance Jio to extend the promotional offers, the source said, “TRAI had sought the Attorney General’s opinion on the matter, and the latter has also opined that TRAI was correct in not blocking the offers“.

    Last month, the inter—ministerial body Telecom Commission in a letter to TRAI had warned of a loan default by operators and asked the regulator to revisit its tariff orders and free promotional offers of firms like Reliance Jio.

    The then Telecom Secretary J S Deepak, who headed the Telecom Commission, had written to Telecom Regulatory Authority of India Chairman R S Sharma about the “serious impact” of promotional offers on the financial health of the sector and the capability of the companies to meet their contractual commitments, including payment of instalments for spectrum purchased, and repayment of loans.

    Reliance Jio rolled out free voice and data under two promotional offers — Jio Welcome Offer and the Happy New Year offer.

    The Telecom Commission’s letter had noted that licence fee collections for the current fiscal have been showing “alarming” downward trend on a quarter—to—quarter basis.

    “These collections have fallen from Rs 39.75 billion in Q1 to Rs 35.84 billion in Q2 to Rs Rs 31.86 billion in Q3. It is expected that this revenue will further decline in Q4 by about 8 to10 per cent. The annual spectrum usage charge revenues are also likely to face a similar decline,” the TC letter had said.

  • 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.

  • Indian equipment makers keen to export telecom goods

    NEW DELHI: The Indian Government is keen to partner with ASEAN countries in enabling Digital Connectivity between India and ASEAN region and also for enabling broadband within ASEAN countries.

    India said these digital connectivity projects are of strategic importance and can have a transformative impact on the economy and cooperation between ASEAN and India.

    This was stated during talks between India and telecom ministers, senior government officials and industry leaders from Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos PDR, Indonesia and Bhutan to commemorate the 25th year of the ASEAN India relations

    Organized by the TEPC (Telecom Equipment and Services Export Promotion Council), the inter-ministerial meeting was led on the Indian side by Communications Minister Manoj Sinha.

    India has committed to provide financial as well as technological support for projects that could include-high-speed fiber optic networks, digital villages, rural broadband, national knowledge network, secured communication networks and telecom training and skill development.

    Taking part in the discussions, Vihaan Networks Limited (VNL) Chairman Rajiv Mehrotra said “To take the telecom revolution in India to its new level of growth, the domestic equipment manufacturers should come forward and take the lead. Today such a concerted move will also fulfill the government’s vision of Make In India and bring in significant indigenization which is the need of the hour.”

    Telecom Secretary J S Deepak said “The potential of partnership between India and ASEAN in the arena of telecom is significant. There is a huge demand for capacity building which the Indian partners can contribute.”

    Indian companies have created world-class products and solutions which are not only of the highest quality and are also very cost-competitive. They are therefore keen to export to customers in ASEAN region, who have similar requirements like India.

  • Three new products developed by C-DOT launched on its Foundation Day

    Three new products developed by C-DOT launched on its Foundation Day

    NEW DELHI: Communications Minister Manoj Sinha today expressed the hope that 100,000 Gram Panchayats (GPs) will be connected through Optical Fibre Cable (OFC) by March next to set up a network infrastructure to serve the rural masses.

    Delivering the key-note address here at the C-DOT Foundation Day, he said everyone was working with zeal to achieve the target of connecting 2,50,000 Gram Panchayats with Broadband Network within the stipulated timeframe which is the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

    Sinha praised C-DOT for launching 18 products and 56 technology transfers, which he said should be taken to Century and also lauded the role of C-DOT for its stellar role in providing security solutions including cyber related.

    Stressing the need for innovation as India cannot afford to emulate the Developed Economies due to limited resources, he urged C-DOT to find new invention, new research and new technology and to give World Class products for achieving the vision of Transforming India through Digital Revolution.

    Sinha said if India lags in catching up with emerging technologies in the coming 15 to 20 years, the very existence of the country will be at stake. He exhorted officials and other stakeholders to “Walk the Talk” and underlined that it is our bounden duty to digitally empower the huge chunk of population particularly in rural areas who are still deprived of IT revolution. He added that Digital divide should end as fast as possible.

    Telecom Secretary J.S.Deepak said as India is on the verge of Data Revolution, the future of C-DOT is very bright as it is involved in making multi-terabit router, providing smart city solutions and security solutions to the Defence and Civil sectors. He urged C-DOT to partner with PSUs and dream big to make India truly a Digital India.

    The Minister also launched three new Products developed by C-DOT on the occasion- WDM PON (WDAN) and Samvad App.

  • Three new products developed by C-DOT launched on its Foundation Day

    Three new products developed by C-DOT launched on its Foundation Day

    NEW DELHI: Communications Minister Manoj Sinha today expressed the hope that 100,000 Gram Panchayats (GPs) will be connected through Optical Fibre Cable (OFC) by March next to set up a network infrastructure to serve the rural masses.

    Delivering the key-note address here at the C-DOT Foundation Day, he said everyone was working with zeal to achieve the target of connecting 2,50,000 Gram Panchayats with Broadband Network within the stipulated timeframe which is the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

    Sinha praised C-DOT for launching 18 products and 56 technology transfers, which he said should be taken to Century and also lauded the role of C-DOT for its stellar role in providing security solutions including cyber related.

    Stressing the need for innovation as India cannot afford to emulate the Developed Economies due to limited resources, he urged C-DOT to find new invention, new research and new technology and to give World Class products for achieving the vision of Transforming India through Digital Revolution.

    Sinha said if India lags in catching up with emerging technologies in the coming 15 to 20 years, the very existence of the country will be at stake. He exhorted officials and other stakeholders to “Walk the Talk” and underlined that it is our bounden duty to digitally empower the huge chunk of population particularly in rural areas who are still deprived of IT revolution. He added that Digital divide should end as fast as possible.

    Telecom Secretary J.S.Deepak said as India is on the verge of Data Revolution, the future of C-DOT is very bright as it is involved in making multi-terabit router, providing smart city solutions and security solutions to the Defence and Civil sectors. He urged C-DOT to partner with PSUs and dream big to make India truly a Digital India.

    The Minister also launched three new Products developed by C-DOT on the occasion- WDM PON (WDAN) and Samvad App.

  • Around 100,000 gram panchayats to be connected through Optic Fibre by March: Sinha

    Around 100,000 gram panchayats to be connected through Optic Fibre by March: Sinha

    NEW DELHI: Around 100,000 Gram Panchayats (GPs) will be connected through Optical Fibre Cable (OFC) to set up a network infrastructure to serve the rural masses by March next year, Communications Minister Manoj Sinha said today.

    He called for holistic planning rather than piecemeal approach to achieve the vision of Digital India.

    Inaugurating a seminar organized by National Institute of Communication Finance on “ICT emerging technologies & USOF for Digital India” here, the Minister said there was need for innovation in this sector as India cannot afford to emulate the Developed economies due to limited resources.

    He said if India will lag in catching up with emerging technologies in the coming 15 to 20 years, the very existence of the country will be at stake. He exhorted officials and other stakeholders to “Walk the Talk” for achieving the Prime Minister’s vision of Transforming India through Digital Revolution. He said it is a bounden duty to digitally empower the huge chunk of population particularly in rural areas who are still deprived of the IT revolution and said the Government alone cannot do this.

    He said there is need for finding appropriate technologies for the deprived sections of society, whether it is by way network infrastructure or digital highway.

    Telecom Secretary J S Deepak said the Finance Ministry is very conservative in allocation of funds under USOF (Universal Service Obligation Fund). He said despite Rs 70,000 crore being available under USOF, allocation of work is less than 40 per cent.

    However, he admitted that the execution of digital infrastructure projects particularly in rural areas needs to be speeded up. Deepak also announced that Rs 10,000 Crore will be spent in 2016-17, which is the highest in the history of USOF.

    Telecom Regulatory Authority of India Chairman R S Sharma said Public-Private Partnership is definitely the best mode for transforming India into Digitally Empowered Society and Knowledge Economy.

    He said when mobile telephony made its foray into India, there were twenty million fixed telephone lines and the number remains the same even today even though the mobile subscribers have crossed the 1000 million mark.

    He cautioned that the era of voice has been replaced by data and if India will lag behind in building the Digital Highway in a time bound manner, there will be problems of traffic Jam.

    The two-day long seminar will deliberate on the topics like changing role of USOF, regulatory issues and its future perspective, challenges of consolidation in digital Indian initiatives, Bharat Net and road ahead, broadband proliferation by telecom service providers, unlicensed spectrum for Wi-Fi etc.

  • Around 100,000 gram panchayats to be connected through Optic Fibre by March: Sinha

    Around 100,000 gram panchayats to be connected through Optic Fibre by March: Sinha

    NEW DELHI: Around 100,000 Gram Panchayats (GPs) will be connected through Optical Fibre Cable (OFC) to set up a network infrastructure to serve the rural masses by March next year, Communications Minister Manoj Sinha said today.

    He called for holistic planning rather than piecemeal approach to achieve the vision of Digital India.

    Inaugurating a seminar organized by National Institute of Communication Finance on “ICT emerging technologies & USOF for Digital India” here, the Minister said there was need for innovation in this sector as India cannot afford to emulate the Developed economies due to limited resources.

    He said if India will lag in catching up with emerging technologies in the coming 15 to 20 years, the very existence of the country will be at stake. He exhorted officials and other stakeholders to “Walk the Talk” for achieving the Prime Minister’s vision of Transforming India through Digital Revolution. He said it is a bounden duty to digitally empower the huge chunk of population particularly in rural areas who are still deprived of the IT revolution and said the Government alone cannot do this.

    He said there is need for finding appropriate technologies for the deprived sections of society, whether it is by way network infrastructure or digital highway.

    Telecom Secretary J S Deepak said the Finance Ministry is very conservative in allocation of funds under USOF (Universal Service Obligation Fund). He said despite Rs 70,000 crore being available under USOF, allocation of work is less than 40 per cent.

    However, he admitted that the execution of digital infrastructure projects particularly in rural areas needs to be speeded up. Deepak also announced that Rs 10,000 Crore will be spent in 2016-17, which is the highest in the history of USOF.

    Telecom Regulatory Authority of India Chairman R S Sharma said Public-Private Partnership is definitely the best mode for transforming India into Digitally Empowered Society and Knowledge Economy.

    He said when mobile telephony made its foray into India, there were twenty million fixed telephone lines and the number remains the same even today even though the mobile subscribers have crossed the 1000 million mark.

    He cautioned that the era of voice has been replaced by data and if India will lag behind in building the Digital Highway in a time bound manner, there will be problems of traffic Jam.

    The two-day long seminar will deliberate on the topics like changing role of USOF, regulatory issues and its future perspective, challenges of consolidation in digital Indian initiatives, Bharat Net and road ahead, broadband proliferation by telecom service providers, unlicensed spectrum for Wi-Fi etc.

  • Communications Minister launches Twitter service for complaints

    Communications Minister launches Twitter service for complaints

    NEW DELHI: Trying to digitally enable the common man, Ministry of Communications (MoC) today launched a “Twitter Sewa” or a Twitter-based service for addressing complaints and grievances of the common man and other stakeholders in the telecoms and postal sectors.

    The Twitter handle for this service will be Minister of Communications Manoj Sinha’s personal handle, @manojsinhabjp.

    Launching the service, Sinha said that this is in tune with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of “minimum government, maximum governance” as various ministries are connecting with Indian citizens through live communications platform to provide a transparent, responsive and accountable administration.

    The Minister said that the Telecoms Ministry and Department of Post will compile a list of complaints based on the Twitter Sewa to categorize them into immediate, mid-term and long-term complaints for redressal.

    Sinha said that the challenge is gigantic as India has the biggest postal network in the world and the number of mobile-phone subscribers had already crossed one billion in January this year. “Therefore, we are aware that complaints are going to pour in from across the country and in great numbers. But I would like to assure you that my Ministry will rise to this challenge,” he added.

    A graduate of an Indian Institute of Technology, the Minister cautioned there are chances that this Twitter service may be “misused by rogue elements” but expressed the hope that Twitter authorities will take care of such transgressions.

    Communications Secretary J.S.Deepak, Secretary Posts B.V.Sudhakar and other senior government officials were present on the occasion.

  • Communications Minister launches Twitter service for complaints

    Communications Minister launches Twitter service for complaints

    NEW DELHI: Trying to digitally enable the common man, Ministry of Communications (MoC) today launched a “Twitter Sewa” or a Twitter-based service for addressing complaints and grievances of the common man and other stakeholders in the telecoms and postal sectors.

    The Twitter handle for this service will be Minister of Communications Manoj Sinha’s personal handle, @manojsinhabjp.

    Launching the service, Sinha said that this is in tune with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of “minimum government, maximum governance” as various ministries are connecting with Indian citizens through live communications platform to provide a transparent, responsive and accountable administration.

    The Minister said that the Telecoms Ministry and Department of Post will compile a list of complaints based on the Twitter Sewa to categorize them into immediate, mid-term and long-term complaints for redressal.

    Sinha said that the challenge is gigantic as India has the biggest postal network in the world and the number of mobile-phone subscribers had already crossed one billion in January this year. “Therefore, we are aware that complaints are going to pour in from across the country and in great numbers. But I would like to assure you that my Ministry will rise to this challenge,” he added.

    A graduate of an Indian Institute of Technology, the Minister cautioned there are chances that this Twitter service may be “misused by rogue elements” but expressed the hope that Twitter authorities will take care of such transgressions.

    Communications Secretary J.S.Deepak, Secretary Posts B.V.Sudhakar and other senior government officials were present on the occasion.