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Tag: MNP

  • TRAI issues directions to prevent TSPs from blocking spectrum

    NEW DELHI: Taking note of the huge wastage due to blocked spectrum causing inconvenience to consumers, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India has directed that a Unified Access Service (UAS) licensee must surrender such spectrum immediately upon closure of wireless access services if he decides to close down its wireless access services which were being provided through the administratively assigned spectrum.

    In its directions issued today related to closure of access services, TRAI says a UAS licensee should be permitted to discontinue any of the services, permitted under the scope of licence without the need to surrender the licence.

    In case of closure of access services through any technology in the entire service area or a part of it, the TSP should be mandated to give a 60 days notice to the licensor and TRAI and 30 days notice to its effected subscribers, clearly stating the options available to the subscribers, including that of Mobile Number Portability (MNP) facility.

    The Authority has recommended various time-lines to be followed by Department of Telecom/WPC and the Licensee in the spectrum trading process. These timelines will bring greater clarity and certainty in the entire process of spectrum trading. If the entire spectrum in all bands is being sold by a licensee and will result in discontinuation of services, recommended timelines will remove uncertainties and facilitate the TSPs to given 60 days notice to DoT/TRAI and 30 days notice to its subscribers.

    If a subscriber wants to switch from one technology to other, within the same TSP, the same should not come under the definition MNP.  

    At the outset, TRAI has said that due to adoption of market based spectrum management, the continuance of access service is now no longer assured. Recently, there have been cases where due to reasons such as licensee failing to re-acquire its spectrum holding in a band on expiry of its license validity period; change of technology deployed by licensee; sale of entire spectrum holding through spectrum trading; roaming arrangement coming to an end; etc., there has been closure of access services being provided by the licensee. As a result subscribers had to face lot of inconveniences.

    The directions are aimed at ensuring that subscribers are not put to undue hardships due to closure of access services.

    The Authority had suo-motu issued a Consultation Paper on “Issues related to closure of Access Services” on 30 November 2016 seeking the comments of the stakeholders and an Open House Discussion was held on 28 April 2017 at New Delhi.

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  • Jio extends Prime deadline, freebies period

    MUMBAI: Reliance Jio Infocomm has announced that, in a month, over 72 million Jio customers have signed up for Jio Prime.

    This is the largest migration from free to paid services in history in such a short period of time.Considering the demand for enrolling to Jio Prime and doing the first recharge, Jio has extended the deadline for purchasing Jio’s Rs 303 (and other) plans till 15th April. This extension will provide the necessary breathing room for users to avoid service disruption during the transition from free to paid services.

    Customers who could not enrol for Jio Prime by 31 March for whatever reason can still do so by paying Rs 99 along with their first purchase of Jio’s Rs 303 and other plans till 15 April.

    Jio also announced the Jio Summer Surprise for its Jio Prime members. Every Jio Prime member, when they make their first paid recharge prior to 15 April using Jio’s Rs 303 plan (or any higher value plan), will get services for the initial three months on a complimentary basis. The paid tariff plan will be applied only in July, after the expiry of the complimentary service.The Jio Summer Surprise is the first of many surprises for Jio Prime members.

    Mobile Number Portability (MNP), which allows customers to retain their existing mobile number when they switch to Jio, is available across the country for all customers. For international travellers, Jio’s International roaming service is available.

    Reliance CMD Mukesh D. Ambani told Jio customers, “I want to personally thank you for choosing Jio, and for being a founding member of the
    Jio movement. A movement to transform India. A movement to empower and enrich each one of you with the revolutionary power and possibilities of Digital Life.”

    “I am conscious that this is the largest migration from free to paid services in history. We are committed to doing this gradually, so that both Jio and Jio customers have the time to adjust, fine tune and perfect this transition. I want to assure you that Jio will walk alongside you all through this transition to paid services,” he said.

    “Jio,” he said, “has created the world’s largest greenfield 4G LTE wireless broadband network, with over 100,000 mobile towers. And we will add another 100,000 towers to our network in the coming months. This greenfield investment – of over Rs 200,000 crore – is the largest in the world.” He added, “I commit that Jio will always strive to provide you the highest quality – and the world’s most affordable – data and voice services.”

  • Jio registers Airtel’s support, inadequate measures

    Jio registers Airtel’s support, inadequate measures

    MUMBAI: Reliance Jio, in a press release, has hailed Airtel’s decision to provide more points of interconnection but laments failing of calls between the two networks and alleged blockage of network portability.

    Reliance Jio Infocomm Limited (RJIL) has welcomed the decision of Bharti Airtel Limited (Airtel) of providing more points of interconnection (POI) to it, as was communicated in the bilateral discussions. However, the quantum of POIs proposed to be released by Airtel is substantially less than the estimated requirement.

    More than two crore calls are failing everyday between the two networks, which is far in excess of QoS parameters. It is unfortunate that TRAI’s intervention was required for Airtel to resume augmentation of POIs.

    Airtel has also insisted on certain unilateral deviations from the Interconnection Agreement with respect to installation of one-way E1s as against both-way E1s. Airtel allegedly continues to abuse its market dominance by imposing onerous conditions which will imminently hinder RJIL’s ability to efficiently utilize the additional E1s.

    Airtel has also been allegedly blocking the mobile number portability
    (“MNP”) facility for its subscribers who wish to subscribe to Jio services on baseless and unsubstantiated grounds, the release stated.

    RJIL hopes that Airtel will enhance the PoI’s sufficiently to meet its license obligation of QoS. Airtel must also immediately make available MNP to all its subscribers opting to port to RJIL.

    Reliance Jio Infocomm has built a world-class all-IP data strong future proof network with latest 4G LTE technology. It is the only network born as a Mobile Video Network from the ground up and supporting voice over LTE technology.

  • Jio registers Airtel’s support, inadequate measures

    Jio registers Airtel’s support, inadequate measures

    MUMBAI: Reliance Jio, in a press release, has hailed Airtel’s decision to provide more points of interconnection but laments failing of calls between the two networks and alleged blockage of network portability.

    Reliance Jio Infocomm Limited (RJIL) has welcomed the decision of Bharti Airtel Limited (Airtel) of providing more points of interconnection (POI) to it, as was communicated in the bilateral discussions. However, the quantum of POIs proposed to be released by Airtel is substantially less than the estimated requirement.

    More than two crore calls are failing everyday between the two networks, which is far in excess of QoS parameters. It is unfortunate that TRAI’s intervention was required for Airtel to resume augmentation of POIs.

    Airtel has also insisted on certain unilateral deviations from the Interconnection Agreement with respect to installation of one-way E1s as against both-way E1s. Airtel allegedly continues to abuse its market dominance by imposing onerous conditions which will imminently hinder RJIL’s ability to efficiently utilize the additional E1s.

    Airtel has also been allegedly blocking the mobile number portability
    (“MNP”) facility for its subscribers who wish to subscribe to Jio services on baseless and unsubstantiated grounds, the release stated.

    RJIL hopes that Airtel will enhance the PoI’s sufficiently to meet its license obligation of QoS. Airtel must also immediately make available MNP to all its subscribers opting to port to RJIL.

    Reliance Jio Infocomm has built a world-class all-IP data strong future proof network with latest 4G LTE technology. It is the only network born as a Mobile Video Network from the ground up and supporting voice over LTE technology.

  • Iron Man 3 creates 2000 jobs in N. Carolina, $179.8 million in spending

    Iron Man 3 creates 2000 jobs in N. Carolina, $179.8 million in spending

    MUMBAI: A new analysis released on the economic impact of Marvel‘s Iron Man 3 filming in North Carolina finds that the film is responsible for $179.8 million in spending and 2,043 jobs in the state.

    The analysis was conducted by MNP LLP and assesses the economic impact of the production filming in North Carolina between December 2011 and December 2012. The analysis also finds that the production is responsible for $104.1 million in labor income across North Carolina, and that spending associated with the film engaged 719 vendors in 84 communities across the state.

    "These findings are just the latest evidence of the economic benefit that film and television production has meant for North Carolina. Thanks to a reliable and refundable production incentive, North Carolinians have been able to reap the benefits of direct spending and job creation across the state. Marvel‘s Iron Man 3, like so many productions that choose to shoot in North Carolina, generated hundreds of millions of dollars in spending for local businesses in dozens of communities and thousands of jobs for North Carolina workers," said Motion Picture Association of America chairman and CEO Chris Dodd.

    Iron Man 3 received $20 million in support through state tax incentives. This investment by the state resulted in the following economic benefits:

    – $8.99 in economic output for every dollar of tax credit received by the production.
    – $6.50 in gross state product for every dollar of tax credit received by the production.
    – 102 full-time equivalent positions for every $1 million in tax credit received by the production.
    – $5.20 in labor income for every dollar of tax credit received by the production.

    In addition, several of the businesses hired directly by the production have reported the film to have had a significant effect during the filming period. For example, Master Craftsmen Services, a furniture restoration company, reported to WRAL that Iron Man 3 represented 10 – 15 per cent of the company‘s business the year in which filming occurred and Tidewater Storage Trailers reported that roughly 10 per cent of its business was generated by the production of Iron Man 3 in the first six months of 2012.