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Tag: Trai

  • Tariff orders in case of DTH operators set aside by TDSAT

    Tariff orders in case of DTH operators set aside by TDSAT

    NEW DELHI: The Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) has set aside the tariff orders drawn up by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) in the case of direct-to-home operators.

     

    The judgment follows two separate petitions filed by Dish TV and Bharat Business Channel, in which TDSAT chairman Aftab Alam and member Kuldip Singh clarified that it will be open to TRAI to issue a fresh tariff order after taking into consideration the inputs provided by the appellants and addressing the issues raised by them.

     

    The Tariff Order had been issued by TRAI on 27 May 2013 under the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India Act 1997 read with notification of 9 January 2004.

     
    The petitioners have alleged that TRAI has no jurisdiction to fix the tariff for the supply of set top boxes (STBs) and there is basis for arriving at the price of STBs. Furthermore, it was alleged that even if TRAI had such powers to fix the tariff or rental for STBs, it has not been exercised lawfully, reasonably and in a non-arbitrary manner and after considering the relevant matters which are required to be considered in price fixation.

     
    Clause 4 of the impugned Tariff Order prescribes tariff for supply and installation of customer premises equipment.

     
    The stand of TRAI is that the operators are offering the services in a bundled form and can spread its costs on the bundled services which include the programming service. TRAI said ‘In view of this fact, the expenditure side of the hardware (CPE) cannot be seen in isolation of the pricing of the bundled service which includes programming service.”

     
    The Tribunal said there was an apparent contradiction in this stand and the main objective of the tariff order which is commercial interoperability. In other words, if a subscriber is not satisfied with the service of an operator or wants to change the operator due to any reason, it is not stuck with the cost of the CPE, it can return the CPE and get its security back at any time.

     
    “In our opinion, one way to address this issue can be to permit the DTH operators to supply recovered/refurbished CPE under the standard tariff order and the subscribers may not insist on new CPE if they want this tariff. However, we may clarify that this is just one example and the respondent is free to address the various issues as it may deem fit. Though all these issues have been raised by the appellants, in our view the same have not been satisfactorily addressed TRAI.”

     
    In view of the above, we find that some elements of cost have not been taken into account and issues raised by the appellants have not been fully addressed by TRAI.

  • TRAI to finalise views on AGR in four to five weeks

    TRAI to finalise views on AGR in four to five weeks

    NEW DELHI: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has sought a time of three to four weeks for finalising its views on the definition of Revenue Base (AGR) for the Reckoning of Licence Fee and Spectrum Usage Charges.

     

    TRAI Chairman Rahul Khullar said in an Open House Discussion (OHD) on the subject that the regulator had issued a consultation paper in July-end at its own insistence since the matter was important. Most of the stakeholders present felt that AGR should not apply to those stakeholders who do not need to apply for licences to operate.

     

    The OHD was attended largely by telecom players and internet service providers. From the TRAI, member Vijayalakshmi Gupta and principal advisor N Parameshwaram were present.  

     

    The paper had been issued following a multitude of cases by both telecom and broadcast operators to review the definition of Gross Revenue (GR) and the permissible deductions to arrive at Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR) in the context of the National Telecom Policy 2012.

     

    It was also aimed at examining the components of GR, AGR and minimum presumptive AGR, rates of licence fee and spectrum usage charges, formats of statements of revenue and licence fee and audit and verifiability of revenue and licence fee.

     

    The paper on Definition of Revenue Base (AGR) for the Reckoning of Licence Fee and Spectrum Usage Charges will also examine the changes made in the licensing regime, the transition from the administrative allocation regime towards market-determined prices for spectrum, and the conclusion of tenure of many licences. The paper provides the relevant background information on the subject covering various issues involved.

     

    On the definition of AGR specifically, the authority had in 2012 recommended that only the revenue from the wireless services shall count towards AGR calculation for the limited purpose of calculation of Spectrum Usage Charges (SUC) that would continue to be determined on service area basis, and should be levied only in respect of those service areas where the licensee holds any access spectrum.

     

    TRAI wanted to know whether there is a need to review/revise the definition of GR and AGR in the different licences at this stage; the guiding principles for designing the framework of the revenue sharing regime; and whether the rate of licence fee (LF) be reviewed instead of changing the definitions of GR and AGR, especially with regard to the component of USO levy in the interest of simplicity, verifiability, and ease of administration.

     

    The paper also wanted to know whether the revenue base for levy of licence fee and spectrum usage charges include the entire income of the licensee or only income accruing from licenced activities if the definitions are to be reviewed/revised.

     

    It has asked whether LF be levied as a percentage of GR in place of AGR in the interest of simplicity and ease of application, and should the revenue base for calculating LF and SUC include ‘other operating revenue’ and ‘other income’.

     

    The government prepared a draft licence agreement for International Long Distance (ILD) services in September 2000 containing a provision that LF was payable as a percentage of revenue. For the Public Mobile Radio Trunk Service (PMRTS) too, the revenue share regime was made applicable from 1 November 2001.

     

    The definition of AGR has been litigated since 2003. TSPs questioned the inclusion of various components of revenue in the reckoning of AGR as well as the legality of the definition before TDSAT. In 2006, TDSAT, after noting that revenue from non-licensed activities needed to be excluded from the reckonable revenue, asked TRAI to make recommendations on the inclusion or exclusion of the disputed items in the AGR. TRAI made its recommendations on September 13, 2006 and the Tribunal gave its final order in the matter on August 30, 2007 after accepting most (but modifying some) of TRAI’s recommendations.

     

    In the course of finalising the recommendations of the authority on the reference from TDSAT, the views of DoT were obtained by the authority through its representative and incorporated in the “Recommendations on components of Adjusted Gross Revenue” dated 13 September  2006. The authority was informed that the basic rationale adopted by the government while formulating the definition of AGR was that it should be easy to interpret – so as to pose fewer problems in application and less disputes and litigations, and to make it less prone to reduction in LF liability by way of accounting jugglery; and it should be easy to verify.

     

    The TDSAT’s judgment of 30 August 2007 was taken in appeal by DoT to the Supreme Court and was set aside by its judgment on 11 October 2011 on the grounds, among others, that TDSAT had no jurisdiction to decide the validity of the terms and conditions of the licence including the definition of AGR incorporated in the licence agreement. It was for DoT – and not TRAI and TDSAT – to take a final decision on the definition of AGR. The Supreme Court also held that a licensee can raise a dispute about the computation of AGR relating to a particular demand and that TDSAT can then examine whether the demand was in accordance with the licence agreement and the definition of AGR.

     

    The judgment of the Supreme Court settled important points of law and has clarified the nature of the contractual relationship between the Government as licensor and the TSPs. The judgment also laid down the parameters of institutional responsibility in arriving at the contractual terms and conditions.

     

    Litigation regarding the computation of LF continues before the TDSAT in the case of individual demands made on TSPs. It has also been reported that writ petitions re-agitating the revenue share definition have been filed by TSPs in different High Courts. 

  • Star India on watch as Hathway implements RIO TDSAT order

    Star India on watch as Hathway implements RIO TDSAT order

    MUMBAI: The seven month long battle between multisystem operator (MSO) Hathway Cable and Datacom on one hand and Star India and Taj Television on the other, finally ended last week, with the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) directing Hathway to execute an interconnect agreement based on Star’s Reference Interconnect Offer (RIO). 

     

    The TDSAT had directed the two to sign the interconnect agreement in its current form and approach the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) in case of any objections with parts of the RIO. “We have signed the RIO in its current form and have sent it to Star,” informs Hathway Cable and Datacom MD and CEO Jagdish Kumar.

     

    But, having said this, Star still seems to have some concerns. “As of today, the Star channels have been dropped on Hathway in Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata and Ahmedabad. So while channels like Star Movies, Star World have been switched off from the Mumbai headend, in Ahmedabad, except Star Plus and Star Movies, all the other channels from the network have been dropped,” says a industry source close to the development.

     

    According to the same source, Hathway, fundamentally has been offering less channels at a higher price to consumers, as compared to the other MSOs or DTH operators in the same market.

     

    “Currently, the MSO has shown a consistent behaviour and pattern of taking on the broadcasters. It has been dropping channels and moving them to a la carte and has been depriving a significant number of consumers of good content,” he further adds.

     

    The network is looking forward to the way the changes will be communicated by the MSO to the customers. “The consumers will have to call the MSO and find out how they can subscribe to the channels as it is no longer available in the packs. And so communication is crucial,” the source informs. 

     

    According to Hathway’s Kumar, with the court ordering the MSO to follow procedures from 1 October, it is doing everything they can to inform their subscribers.  “We are using various means of communication. So while the first thing we are doing is communicating to our local cable operators, we have also put tickers on our channels, informing consumers that Star channels will be available on a la carte, henceforth. This apart, all the MSOs together are coming up with a press release in order to inform the consumers about the change,” says Kumar.

     

    Kumar says, that Hathway will continue to inform its LCOs and subscribers, even after the initial phase.

     

    Hathway will be providing non-sports channels of Star at Rs 10 each, and sports channels for Rs 20 to its consumers.

     

     The MSO believes it can still make a good profit margin at these rates, even though this looks challenging, considering the range of RIO pricing for the Star package is from 52 paisa for Channel V to Rs 17.39 for Star Sports2 and Rs 2.36 for Star World.

     

    “But we didn’t want to confuse our customers with so many price points, and so came up with this plan. So while we expect to make a good margin for Channel V, the margin for Star Plus which is for Rs 9 will be small. But overall, we hope to make a good margin,” ends Kumar. 

  • JAINHITS chooses ARRIS to meet demands of video digitisation

    JAINHITS chooses ARRIS to meet demands of video digitisation

    NEW DELHI: JAINHITS, India’s first and only HITS-based Direct to Network (DTN) service, has selected set top boxes from ARRIS’s HMC portfolio to deliver digital video services across the nation. 

     

    According to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), India is set to witness digitisation of approximately 100 million homes by the end of this year.

     

    Currently, JAINHITS offers more than 252 standard definition (SD) channels, following the launch of the nationwide ARRIS digital headend earlier this year, and plans to soon provide full high-definition (HD) services, which will be made available via the new ARRIS set-top boxes.

     

    “As we look to grow our services to meet the digital transition in India and introduce HD services later this year, we are pleased to extend our working relationship with ARRIS to add its set-top boxes to our offering,” said JAINHITS chairman JK Jain. “Our platform coupled with ARRIS set-top boxes will allow cable operators to provide 250 digital TV channels using just 12 frequencies as compared to the 106 they are using today. This will help them free valuable spectrum, and use this available spectrum to provide broadband services to increase ARPU and fulfill Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s dream of a digitally developed India.” 

     

    “ARRIS is driving the global transition to an all-digital content delivery platform – giving customers like JAINHITS a competitive advantage in delivering tomorrow’s services on today’s networks”, said ARRIS Asia Pacific senior vice president Tim Gropp. “JAINHITS benefits from our proven digital video portfolio and worldwide footprint, which enables us to deliver localised solutions and support.”

     

    JAINHITS is deploying HMC1010 SD set-top and the HMC2010 HD set-top from September 2014. Both are cost-effective digital terminal adapters (DTA) for operators looking to convert from an analog to a digital service. The compact and energy efficient design of all the HMC series set-top boxes, including the HMC1010 and HMC2010, minimizes energy consumption, reducing their impact on the environment.

     

  • IDOS 2014: MCOF’s vision for DAS phase III and IV

    IDOS 2014: MCOF’s vision for DAS phase III and IV

    GOA: Maharashtra Cable Operators Foundation president Arvind Prabhoo has expressed complete dissatisfaction at the extension of the digitisation dates in phase III and phase IV. While the Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar has said that the delay in digitisation is because he is looking at indigenisation of set top boxes (STBs), Prabhoo feels that even before the Indian STB manufacturers come up with their quality boxes, the international vendors will start chipping in boxes, which will be over priced.

     

    According to Prabhoo, the postponement also sends a signal that there is a dichotomy between the regulator and the industry. The MCOF president was expressing his views during the just concluded IDOS 2014 in Goa.   

     

    “The worst impact of this delay will be on the last mile owners (LMOs), who will now face stiff competition from the direct to home (DTH) players because they will now have almost a year or year and a half to start marketing their product,” informs Prabhoo.

     

    The LMO, for Prabhoo is an entrepreneur “and we have been saying this since last year.”

     

    Many LMOs have started realigning themselves at district level as well as state level. “The last mile owner has realised that alignment and realignment will happen and it is good for him. We know that a lot of LMOs, who have a good standing in the community will get funds for fellow LMOs,” opines Prabhoo.

     

    He also highlights that a lot of technology solutions will be provided by LMOs, which will be much cheaper than what is currently available. “And if we adopt technology, I think it will become a great time for LMOs and independent headend operators.”

     

    Prabhoo through IDOS 2014 has also requested the Telecom Regulator Authority of India (TRAI) chairman Rahul Khullar to open up the ISP licences for cable television owners. “It is after this that the broadband and digital India dream can materialise,” he says.  

     

    He opines that while the extension has been given, the challenge can be seen as an opportunity. He is aware of the challenges, considering the different demographics for phase III and IV markets. “There are almost 5000 headend owners; we might have to cut this down to maybe 50 headends. That’s going to lead to unemployment. Also revenue differentiation will be there,” he highlights.

     

    Prabhoo disagrees with the perception that the ARPU is less. “There is going to be a viability concern because of transportation cost. We have requested the TRAI chairman to also allow us to use the national optical fibre system and subsidise rates. If that happens and cost of transportation goes down then these headends could be a viable proposition,” he says.

     

    According to him, players who were earlier in the B2B space and have applied for a DAS licence, when they begin to expand in phase III and IV areas, they won’t have any legacy issues. MCOF claims to have helped the LMO and independent headend owner by tying up with telecom skills department to re-skill employees because digital era is different than their analogue culture. “We are revenue driven and not valuation drive. So, those who want to see actual revenues coming in, should partner with us,” says Prabhoo.

     

    Learning from the mistakes of phase I and II, this time it will emphasise on data services. One of the major issues was about customer ownership and MCOF says that this will keep the ownership with the LMO with a fee based OSS and BSS services such as headend operation, billing etc. “We are looking at reducing a tier in the broadcaster, MSO, LMO, customer tier thus enabling lower MRP and much higher revenue share to the LMOs,” he concludes.

  • LCOs threaten to boycott TRAI OHD meet on 29 September

    LCOs threaten to boycott TRAI OHD meet on 29 September

    NEW DELHI: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has called an Open House Discussion (OHD) on the draft amendment Registration India International regulations, the Standards of Quality Service (Digital Addressable Cable TV Systems) (Amendment) Regulations 2014.

     

    The meeting is being held in Delhi on 29 September and local cable operators and other stakeholders have been asked to register by 26 September evening.

     

    However, most local cable operators from different parts of the country have decided to boycott the meet, alleging that TRAI ‘management ran away’ in the last Open House Discussion.

                   

    Several organisations of LCOs from Gujarat, West Bengal and other parts of the country pointed out that many LCOs had come to Delhi on 24 September and alleged that ‘the management of TRAI does not have respect towards this religious faith’ and has given a deadline of 26 September for the next OHD despite the Navratri festival.

     

    It was pointed out to indiantelevision.com that even the next OHD was clashing with the festive season and not enough time was given to the LCOs to be able to get bookings to come back to Delhi.

     

    LCOs alleged that ‘there was no discussion and no LCO was allowed to share in a fair or justified way in the last OHD and it looked like some dictatorship where the authority only wants to levy amendment on the LCOs’.

  • Several Chennai-based MSOs get clearance for DAS

    Several Chennai-based MSOs get clearance for DAS

    NEW DELHI: A total of 119 Multi System Operators (MSOs), all over the country, have been granted permanent registration for 10 years to operate the digital addressable system (DAS).

     

    The MSOs had been given provisional permission earlier.

     

    Interestingly, many MSOs from Chennai have got permission except for Arasu as the latest recommendation of Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) states that state-owned bodies should not be permitted, and also because of the denial of permission to Kal Cables and its subsidiary Sumangali.

     

    The nine MSOs, which have got permission as per the latest list released on 22 September, are Koduri Satyanarayana, Sri Sai TV Services of Khammam District of Telengana; Abhilash Communications of Adilabad for notified areas of phase  II and phase  III cities in PAN India; JPR Channel of Mumbai for Mumbai (phase I) and phase II areas in Maharashtra and Gujarat; Operator Digital Tamil Nadu for all the cities, towns and villages of phase II,III and IV in Tamil Nadu; VK Digital Network of Chennai for cities/towns/areas occurring against phase I, phase II, phase III, phase-IV; Saga Network Entertainment of Chennai for Tamil Nadu; Talachaer TV Home Cable Network of Talacher in Odisha for Angul District and Dhenkanal District, Odisha ; Voice and Vision Club of Singrauli in Madhya Pradesh for phase III and IV of Madhya Pradesh and Sonebhadra Districts of Uttar Pradesh; and Den Network Satellite of Mumbai for Maharashtra. 

     

    Digicable Network of Mumbai and Kal Cables of Chennai, which had received provisional licence’s, have been refused permission as it has failed to get the clearance of the Home Ministry.

     

    According to a list issued in late July, 16 MSOs had been refused permission. It also said that Kolkata based Digicable Communications had been denied permission after the break-up of the joint venture with Digicable Networks of Mumbai, which has received permission for Greater Mumbai, National Capital Territory of Delhi and Greater Kolkata.

     

    MSO sources, however, said that the approved list was in addition to the 140 whose names had been approved in March last year.

  • Additional time for comments on regulatory framework for platform services as Delhi OHD ends abruptly

    Additional time for comments on regulatory framework for platform services as Delhi OHD ends abruptly

    NEW DELHI: An Open House Meeting in New Delhi on issues relating to the regulatory framework for platform services operated by television distribution platform operators ended abruptly when a set of cable TV operators insisted that other problems relating to LCOs should also be discussed.

     

    TRAI chairman Rahul Khullar assured the operators that time would be given after the agenda items were over, but the meet was ended abruptly after 45 minutes when no heed was paid to his plea and because of ‘sustained disturbance’.

     

    Later, local cable operators held a demonstration outside the venue and also filed a police complaint against TRAI officials including Khullar, saying he first invited them but refused to listen to them, and called the police to keep them under control. They also alleged he was only interested in appeasing the broadcasters lobby. 

     

    TRAI later said the meetings for the other three regions – Mumbai on 12 September; Bangalore on 16 September; and Kolkata on 19 September – were constructive wherein not just the issues on the agenda but also other matters relating to development of the cable industry, including digitisation, were discussed.

     

    In view of the abrupt ending and to enable stakeholders to make other recommendations relating to the regulatory framework for platform services operated by TV distribution platform operators, TRAI has decided to permit stakeholders to give any additional comments by 29 September. Platform services include the local channels shown on cable TV.

     

    The meeting in Delhi, organised for the stakeholders in the Northern region, was the last of a series of four open house discussions organised in different parts of India.

     

    The four OHDs were to enable the Authority obtain first hand information regarding the views and opinions on the issues involved from a wide cross-section of the stakeholders.

     

    Representatives of the local cable operators; multi-system operators; broadcasters; DTH operators; HITS operators; content creators; consumer organisations, research institutions etc. came for the OHDs. 

     

  • TRAI seeks to exempt small Internet Service Providers from tariff reporting requirement

    TRAI seeks to exempt small Internet Service Providers from tariff reporting requirement

    NEW DELHI: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has proposed exempting any Internet Service Provider (ISP) from the reporting requirement during a financial year if the total number of its subscribers is less than 10,000 on the last day of the preceding financial year.

     

    In a draft amendment to the Telecommunication Tariff Order 1999 for comments of the stakeholders, it has also sought to extend the existing exemption given to access providers in respect of tariff schemes offered to bulk customers in response to a tender process or as a result of negotiations between the access provider and such bulk customer to the ISPs also.

     

    Stakeholders have been asked to send in their responses by 14 October.

     

    TRAI is concerned that only 60.87 million broadband connections had been achieved against a target of 175 million connections by 2017. It says the country is nowhere near meeting the target for a service which is considered almost a basic necessity in many developed countries. Broadband is helping to deliver a wide range of services, from services directly related to the Millennium Development Goals set by the United Nations, to services in support of broader citizen participation or services leveraged across different sectors to bring more people into the formal economy. Therefore there is an urgent need to review the present policies and its implementation initiated to build infrastructure required for penetration of broadband in the country.

     

    The Digital India project aims to offer a one-stop shop for Government services which would use the mobile phone as the backbone for its delivery mechanism. The Rs 1,13,000-crore initiative seeks to transform India into a connected knowledge economy offering world class services at the click of a mouse. Plans to digitally connect the country will be supported by modules on digital literacy in regional languages which the Government plans to run in the next few years.

  • Concerned at slow growth of broadband in India, TRAI wants stakeholders to give suggestions

    Concerned at slow growth of broadband in India, TRAI wants stakeholders to give suggestions

    NEW DELHI: Concerned that only 60.87 million broadband connections had been achieved against a target of 175 million connections by 2017, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has issued a Consultation Paper to probe the reasons for this slow growth.

     

    One of the questions posed in the 78-page paper is to know the specific reasons that Internet Service providers are proactively not connecting with the National Internet Exchange of India (NIXI) set up in 2002 and what measures are required to achieve this.

     

    TRAI wants to know if the hosting of content within the country helps in reduction of the cost of broadband to a subscriber and what measures are required to encourage content service providers to host content in the data centre situated within India.

     

    It has also sought to know if public sector undertakings are ideal choices for implementing the National Optical Fibre Network (NOFN) project.

     

    The regulator has asked the stakeholders to send their comments 14 October and counter comments by 21 October. TRAI has also said that no further extension will be given.

     

    In its initial remarks, the Paper noted that the country is nowhere near meeting the target for a service which is considered almost a basic necessity in many developed countries. Broadband is helping to deliver a wide range of services, from services directly related to the Millennium Development Goals set by the United Nations, to services in support of broader citizen participation or services leveraged across different sectors to bring more people into the formal economy. Therefore there is an urgent need to review the present policies and its implementation initiated to build infrastructure required for penetration of broadband in the country.

     

    The objective of the Paper is to discuss issues contributing to the poor broadband penetration in India and solicit stakeholders’ views on actions required to be taken both by the Government and the service providers to accelerate the proliferation and use of broadband in the country.

     

    It says India has the intrinsic strengths for an Internet transformation, but concerted efforts are required to address key gaps in the Internet ecosystem.

     

    Consumers, entrepreneurs, enterprises and the Government can play a pivotal role in building a strong Internet ecosystem driven by the country’s young Internet-savvy population and strong local consumption, entrepreneurship and innovation, and a large pool of technically trained human capital. Identification of the impediments to expansion of this ecosystem and addressing these impediments to create an environment to encourage broadband growth is the need of the hour.

     

    The Digital India project aims to offer a one-stop shop for Government services which would use the mobile phone as the backbone for its delivery mechanism. The Rs 1,13,000 crore initiative seeks to transform India into a connected knowledge economy offering world class services at the click of a mouse. Plans to digitally connect the country will be supported by modules on digital literacy in regional languages which the Government plans to run in the next few years.

     

    But to be successful, a broadband policy needs to reflect the requirements of different communities across the country. This means taking a holistic approach and leveraging the opportunities provided by wireline and wireless technology in each part of the network i.e. backbone, backhaul and local access. The implementation of broadband plans and strategies needs to be monitored. Monitoring should be an integral part of broadband plans and strategies – providing an information base for the initial development of plans and strategies as well as for checking the progress of particular policies and programs, and for the evaluation and reassessment of priorities and strategies.

     

    The regulator wants to know what immediate measures are required to promote wireline technologies in access networks and what is the cost per line for various wireline technologies and how can this cost be minimised.

     

    What are the impediments to the deployment of wireless technologies in the access network and how these deployments can be made faster, it wants to know.

     

    TRAI recently released recommendations on Microwave backhaul and it wants to know if some issues were left out to ensure availability of sufficient Microwave backhaul capacity for the growth of broadband in the country.

     

    The pricing of Domestic Leased Circuits (DLC) had been reviewed in July 2014. Apart from pricing, TRAI has asked if there are any other issues which can improve availability of DLC.

     

    Should the awarding of EPC turnkey contracts to private sector parties through International Competitive Bidding (ICB) be considered for the NOFN project, the regulator wants to know.

     

    It also asked if there are any ways in which infrastructure development costs can be reduced and is it possible to piggyback on the existing private sector access networks so as to minimize costs in reaching remote rural locations.

     

    It wonders if the private sector can do something to reduce delivery costs.

     

    It wants to know the major issues in obtaining right of way for laying optical fibre and the applicable charges/ constraints imposed by various bodies who grant permission of right of way.

     

    It wants to know if the Government should consider framing guidelines to mandate compulsory deployment of duct space for fibre/ telecommunications cables and space for telecommunication towers in all major physical infrastructure construction projects such as building or upgrading highways, inner-city metros, railways or sewer networks.  

     

    Do cable operators face impediments to the provision of Broadband by them, it wants to know.

     

    TRAI has asked what measures are required to reduce the cost and create a proper eco system for deployment of FTTH in the access network.

     

    It wonders if there are any regulatory issues in providing internet facility through Wi-Fi Hotspots and the business model for these.

     

    What other spectrum bands which can be unlicensed for usage of Wi-Fi technology or any other technology for provision of broadband, it seeks to know, also wondering how much spectrum will be required in the immediate future and in the long term to meet the target of broadband penetration and what initiatives are required to make available the required spectrum.

     

    How can Government agencies be encouraged to surrender spectrum occupied by them in IMT bands and what should be the time frame for auctioning the spectrum in 700 MHz band, it asks.