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Tag: Trai

  • TSPs accountable for discriminatory MNP specific tariff offers: TRAI

    TSPs accountable for discriminatory MNP specific tariff offers: TRAI

    Mumbai: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has received complaints lodged by telecom service providers (TSPs) that rival TSPs are offering discriminatory tariff benefits to customers who want to switch telcos via mobile number portability (MNP).

    As per the Telecommunication Tariff Order (TTO), 1999, clause 10 on non-discrimination: No service provider shall, in any manner, discriminate between subscribers of the same class and such classification of the subscribers shall not be arbitrary.

    Provided that every classification between subscribers shall be based on intelligible eligibility criteria where such criteria shall have a rational nexus to the purpose of the said classification, it added.

    In 2011 letter, TRAI had clarified that: “The offering of differential tariffs to the subscribers porting from the network of other service provider is not valid and reasonable classification as the motive behind such classification is apparently to induce churn from the competitors’ network and which is discriminatory and contravenes the provisions of clause 10 of TTO, 1999.”

    “While TSPs have generally denied allegations of discriminatory MNP-specific tariff offers, in some cases, they have stated that their channel partners may have given some MNP specific benefits to the customers on their own without the consent and authorization of TSP”.

    Channel partners such as distributors, retailers and third-party apps are non-licensed entities that are appointed by TSPs for the purpose of offering telecom services. However, it remains the responsibility of the TSPs to adhere to regulatory provisions and guidelines with respect to tariff offerings.

    Considering all aspects and with the objective to ensure transparency, uniformity, and protection to its subscribers, TRAI has directed telecom services to ensure:

    1.     Only the tariffs reported to TRAI are offered through their channel partners, distributors, third-party apps etc.

    2.     All tariff orders comply with extant TRAI regulations/directions/orders issued in this regard as, where the TSPs name/brand is used for marketing/offering/selling products and services, the responsibility of ensuring compliance of TRAI’s regulatory guidelines/provisions shall remain with TSP.

    At the end of June, TRAI reported that telcos Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel had added 5.4 million and 3.8 million mobile subscribers whereas Vodafone Idea has lost 4.2 million mobile subscribers.

  • TRAI releases recommendations to promote broadband connectivity

    TRAI releases recommendations to promote broadband connectivity

    Mumbai: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has released its recommendations on ‘Roadmap to Promote Broadband Connectivity and Enhanced Broadband Speed’.

    The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) as per the objectives of the National Digital Communications Policy 2018 sought recommendations of TRAI on issues relating to broadband speed and its categorisations, infrastructure creation, and promoting broadband connectivity.

    TRAI issued a consultation paper on 20 August seeking comments and counter comments from stakeholders. The DoT vide another reference letter dated 12 March sought consolidated and updated recommendations on the proliferation of fixed-line broadband services in the country. This included reference to additional issues relating to licence fee exemption and direct benefit to consumers. A supplementary consultation paper was issued on 19 May followed by an open house discussion.

    Based on inputs received by stakeholders and its own analysis, TRAI has finalised its recommendation shared below.

    1. Definition of broadband has been reviewed and the minimum download speed for broadband connectivity revised upward from the present 512 Kbps to 2 Mbps. Based on download speed, fixed broadband has been categorised into three different categories – basic, fast, and super-fast.

    2. To encourage lakhs of cable operators to provide broadband services, TRAI’s past recommendation on ‘Definition of Revenue Base (AGR) for the Reckoning of Licence Fee and Spectrum Usage Charges’ has been reiterated.

    3. To enhance mobile broadband speed in rural and remote areas by fiberisation of the cellular networks, backhaul connectivity on optical fiber using the BharatNet network with Service Level Agreements (SLA) should be made available to service providers.

    4. To incentivise investment in the last-mile linkage for fixed-line broadband, notify a skill development plan and an interest subvention scheme for cable operators registered as micro and small size companies.

    5. To enhance mobile broadband speed, the radio spectrum used for backhauling connectivity of cellular networks should be assigned to service providers on-demand and in a time-bound manner.

    6. Creation of national portal for RoW permissions to facilitate the expeditious rollout of telecom and other essential utilities infrastructure.

    7. Incentivise establishment of common ducts and posts for fiberisation of networks. In line with BharatNet Project, exempt RoW charges for the next five years of expeditious laying of common ducts and posts.

    8. A centrally sponsored scheme (CSS) to incentivise states/UTs for RoW reforms. Incentives to be linked to the net improvement in the Broadband Readiness Index (BRI) score of a state/UT.

    9. Mandates co-deployment of common ducts during the construction of any roadway, railway, and water and gas pipelines receiving public funding.

    10. To facilitate the sharing of passive infrastructure such as ducts, optical fibers, posts, etc., all the passive infrastructure available in the country should be mapped by each service provider and infrastructure provider using a Geographic Information System (GIS). The Telecom Engineering Center (TEC) should notify the standards for this purpose. Establishment of e-marketplace on a common GIS platform to facilitate leasing and trading of passive infrastructure.  

  • DTH operators report sharp drop in subscribers in Jan-March: TRAI

    DTH operators report sharp drop in subscribers in Jan-March: TRAI

    Mumbai: The total number of active DTH subscribers declined to 69.57 million at the end of March 2021 from 70.99 million at the end of December 2020, as per the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI). This is in addition to the subscribers of DD Free Dish (DTH service of Doordarshan).

    The share of leading DTH players stood at Tata Sky (33.3 per cent), Dish TV India (24.09 per cent), Bharti Telemedia (25.54 per cent), and Sun Direct TV (17.07 per cent).

    A total of 901 satellite TV channels have been permitted by the ministry of information and broadcasting (MIB) out of which 327 are pay-TV channels. There are 235 SD channels and 92 HD channels. All the other channels permitted by MIB may be considered free-to-air channels.

    There are 1726 MSOs registered with MIB out of which only 12 MSOs and one HITS operator have a subscriber base greater than one million. Siti Networks had 8.2 million subscribers followed by GTPL Hathway at 7.7 million, Hathway Digital at 5.6 million, Den Networks at 4.5 million, Thamizhaga Cable TV Communication at 3.5 million, Kerala Communicators Cable at 3.05 million, Tamil Nadu Arasu Cable at 2.9 million, Fastway Transmissions 2.2 million, NXT Digital (HITS) at 2.05 million, KAL Cable at 2.02 million, VK Digital at 1.7 million, Asianet Digital Network at 1.2 million and NXT Digital (Cable TV) at 1.1 million.

    There are 366 private FM radio channels in 105 cities with 30 private FM radio broadcasters. Odisha Television Ltd, has ceased the operation of its single FM radio station in the city of Rourkela, Odisha. The advertising revenue reported by FM radio broadcasters is Rs 321.52 crore as against Rs 323.01 crore in the previous quarter.

    There are 324 operational community radio stations up from 315 in the previous quarter.

  • TRAI makes recommendations on satellite-based connectivity for low bit-rate applications

    TRAI makes recommendations on satellite-based connectivity for low bit-rate applications

    New Delhi: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) has released the recommendations on “Licensing Framework for Satellite-based connectivity for low bit rate applications” for both commercial and captive usage.

    The recommendations come after the Department of Telecom (DoT) highlighted a need for a suitable licensing framework considering the constraints of the existing provisions in respect of proposed Satellite-based low bit-rate services. In its letter dated 23 November 2020, DoT had requested Trai to examine all the factors holistically and make recommendations.

    Low bit-rate applications and IoT devices require low cost, low power, and small size terminals that can effectively perform the task of signal transfer with minimum loss. Many sparsely populated areas with important economic activities suited for IoT-related services may not have terrestrial coverage or other forms of connectivity. Therefore, Satellites can help bridge this gap by providing coverage to even the most remote areas and will help in fulfilling connect India mission.

    Trai had initially issued a consultation paper on 12 March inviting comments and counter-comments from stakeholders by 7 May. “The authority received 29 comments and four counter comments from various stakeholders. An Open House Discussion (OHD) was also convened on the issues raised in the Consultation Paper on dated 2 June 2021 through video conferencing,” said Trai in a media statement.

    The regulator has recommended that for provision of satellite-based connectivity for IoT and low-bit-rate applications, the relevant service licensees may provide connectivity as per the scope of their authorisation for any kind of network topology model including hybrid model, aggregator model and direct-to-satellite model.

    All types of satellite – Geo Stationary Orbit (GSO) and Non-GSO (NGSO) satellites and any of the permitted satellite frequency bands may be used for providing satellite-based low-bit-rate connectivity. The Service Licensees should be permitted to obtain satellite bandwidth from foreign satellites in all the permitted satellite bands in order to provide satellite-based services.

    It also recommended that the relevant existing authorisations under the Unified Licensing framework may be suitably amended for enabling satellite-based low-bit-rate connectivity. “The government may come out with a road map detailing the schedule of the launch of communication satellites and availability of the domestic satellite capacities in India to facilitate the service licensees to plan and optimise their capacity procurement,” it added.

    Other recommendations include measures to make the services cheaper and affordable like permitting the hiring of foreign capacities for a longer period as per need instead of three to five years, removal of facilitation charges by the government when hiring foreign capacities from the approved list of foreign satellites/satellite systems, etc.

    According to Trai, DoT should also put in place a comprehensive, simplified, end-to-end coordinated, single window online common portal for all the agencies involved in the grant of various approvals/permissions etc, wherein the service licensees can place their request and the agencies respond online in a transparent and time-bound manner.

    Last September, the then chairman of Trai, R S Sharma, had also called for an urgent need to bring down the price of broadband services provided through satellites, asserting that its current high price could pose a challenge in its adoption in the country.

  • Jio, Airtel add millions of mobile subscribers in June: TRAI

    Jio, Airtel add millions of mobile subscribers in June: TRAI

    Mumbai: Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel (including Tata Teleservices) added 5.4 million and 3.8 million mobile subscribers whereas Vodafone Idea lost 4.2 million subscribers, according to the latest subscription data shared by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI). Reliance Communications added 917 subscribers growing its subscriber base by 10 per cent, it showed.

    Total wireless subscribers increased from 1176.84 million to 1180.83 million at a monthly growth rate of 0.34 per cent. The number of active wireless subscribers stood at 984.79 million. Bharti Airtel had the maximum proportion of active subscribers at 343.71 million. Jio had 340.34 million and Vodafone Idea had 241.71 million active subscribers. Excluding Himachal Pradesh and Karnataka, all service areas showed growth in wireless subscribers for the period.

    The number of telephone subscribers increased from 1198.50 million to 1202.57 million. Urban telephone subscriptions increased from 661.18 million to 666.10 million. However, rural telephone subscriptions decreased from 537.52 million to 536.47 million. The overall teledensity increased from 87.84 per cent to 88.07 per cent. The wireless teledensity increased from 86.25 per cent to 86.48 per cent, the data showed.

    As per reports received from 440 operators in the month of June, the number of broadband subscribers increased from 780.27 million to 792.78 million. The top five service providers constituted 98.77 per cent market share of the total broadband subscribers. These service providers were Reliance Jio (439.91 million), Bharti Airtel (197.14 million), Vodafone Idea (121.42 million), BSNL (22.69 million), and Atria Convergence (1.91 million).

    The top five wired broadband service providers were BSNL (6.03 million), Bharti Airtel (3.37 million), Reliance Jio Infocomm (3.22 million), Atria Convergence Technologies (1.91 million), and Hathway Cable & Datacom (1.06 million).

    The top five wireless broadband subscribers were Reliance Jio Infocomm (436.69 million), Bharti Airtel (193.74 million), Vodafone Idea (121.41 million), BSNL (16.67 million), and Tikona Infinet (0.31 million).

    Wireline subscribers increased from 20.36 million to 21.66 million. The overall wireline teledensity increased from 1.49 per cent to 1.59 per cent. BSNL and MTNL held 48.72 per cent of the wireline market. BSNL added 1.1 million new wireline subscribers whereas Reliance Jio 0.1 million new wireline subscribers at the end of June.  

  • SC issues notice to TRAI in NTO 2.0 case

    SC issues notice to TRAI in NTO 2.0 case

    New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday issued a notice to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) on the petitions filed by broadcasters against the Bombay high court judgment upholding the New Tariff Order (NTO) 2.0.

    The bench of Chief Justice NV Ramana, Justice Surya Kant, and Justice Aniruddha Bose presided over the hearing. It has also directed TRAI to file its reply before the next date of hearing.

    On 30 June, the Bombay HC had upheld the constitutional validity of the NTO 2.0 while striking down one of the twin conditions relating to the average pricing of a channel in a bouquet terming it as ‘arbitrary’. The court had also extended interim relief to the broadcasters for six weeks, and asked the regulatory body not to take any coercive action against them in case of non-compliance.

    The judgment was challenged by the Indian Broadcasting and Digital Foundation (IBDF), and several individual broadcasters including Zee, Sony, TV 18, Star India, and Film and Television Guild of India Ltd in the Supreme Court. On 6 August, the apex court asked them to get back to it with slimmer petitions and posted the matter for hearing on 18 August.

    Among other things, the New Tariff Order (NTO) 2.0 issued by TRAI in January, 2020 prescribed linkage between a-la-carte price and Bouquet and reduced the price cap on the subscription fees for pay channels. So, TV broadcasters can now include a channel in a pack only if it is priced at Rs 12 or less than that. Earlier, this limit was Rs. 19. According to broadcasters, NTO 2.0 is ‘violative of their fundamental right’, and could prove detrimental to the overall sectoral growth.

    The matter is next listed on 7 September for consideration of stay on NTO 2.0.

  • SC adjourns NTO 2.0 hearing to 18 August

    SC adjourns NTO 2.0 hearing to 18 August

    Mumbai: The Supreme Court on Friday adjourned the hearing in a matter pertaining to the New Tariff Order (NTO 2.0) to 18 August.

    Last month, The Indian Broadcasting Foundation (IBF) and several leading broadcasters had filed a petition in the Supreme Court against the Bombay high court verdict dated 30 June, which had upheld the constitutionality of the NTO 2.0. The amended NTO 2.0, passed by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) in January 2020, was challenged by broadcasters in the Bombay HC.

    After a legal tussle that lasted over a year, TRAI had managed to get a green signal from the court on 30 June on the implementation of the amended NTO 2.0. The division bench of the HC had stated that the challenge to the constitutional validity of the 2020 rules and regulations of TRAI does not hold any water. At the same time, it termed one of the twin conditions “arbitrary”, according to which the maximum retail price of an a-la-carte channel could not be more than one-third the maximum rate of a channel in the bouquet.

    The judgment was passed on the petitions filed by several broadcasters under the umbrella of the Indian Broadcasting Foundation (IBF) including ZEE Entertainment, Star India, TV18, and Sony Pictures Network India (SPN) who had challenged the NTO 2.0 terming it “arbitrary and in violation of their fundamental right”.

    The NTO 2.0 prescribed linkage between a-la-carte price and bouquet and reduced the price cap on the subscription fees for pay channels.

  • Net mobile subscribers decline in May: TRAI

    Net mobile subscribers decline in May: TRAI

    Mumbai: India’s telecom market saw a 6.2 million net decline in mobile subscribers at the end of May, according to the latest monthly subscription data released by Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI).

    Reliance Jio was the only wireless access service provider that added 3.5 million mobile subscribers. Previous data shows that the telecom company added 4.7 million mobile subscribers in April.

    Bharti Airtel saw its mobile subscribers reduce by 4.6 million (including the subscribers of Tata Teleservices), the highest loss, followed closely by Vodafone Idea which lost 4.2 million customers. This is several multiples higher than the subscriber decline reported in April which stood at 0.51 million and 1.8 million for Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea, respectively.

    Similarly, the number of telephone subscribers came down from 1,203.47 million at the end of April to 1,198.50 million at the end of May, at a monthly decline rate of 0.41 per cent. TRAI had reported a monthly growth rate of 0.19 per cent and 1.12 per cent for telephone subscribers in the preceding months of April and March, respectively. Also, Urban and rural telephone monthly subscription decline rates for May stood at 0.47 per cent and 0.34 per cent, respectively.

    The overall tele-density in India decreased from 88.27 per cent at the end of April to 87.84 per cent at the end of May. The share of urban and rural subscribers out of total number of subscribers stood at 55.17 per cent and 44.83 per cent, respectively.

    As per reports received from 438 operators in May, the number of broadband subscribers decreased from 782.86 million at the end of April to 780.27 million at the end of May with a monthly decline rate of 0.33 per cent, according to TRAI data. While mobile subscribers and fixed wireless subscribers.

    (Wi-Fi, Wi-Max, Point to Point Radio & VSAT) saw monthly decline rates of 0.38 per cent and 2.45 per cent respectively, wired subscribers grew to 22.74 million from 22.42 million at a 1.43 per cent monthly growth rate.

    The top five service providers made up 98.80 per cent of the market share of the total broadband subscribers including wired and wireless at the end of May. These included Reliance Jio Infocomm (434.23 million), Bharti Airtel (192. 73 million), Vodafone Idea (119.64 million), BSNL (22.4 million) and Atria Convergence (1.87 million).

  • Indian Broadcasting Foundation (IBF) moves SC against HC’s NTO 2.0 verdict

    Indian Broadcasting Foundation (IBF) moves SC against HC’s NTO 2.0 verdict

    New Delhi: The Indian Broadcasting Foundation (IBF) has filed a petition in the Supreme Court against the Bombay high court verdict, which had upheld the constitutionality of the amended New Tariff Order (NTO 2.0) passed by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai).

    After a legal tussle that lasted over a year, Trai had managed to get a green signal from the court on 30 June on the implementation of amended NTO 2.0 passed in January, 2020. The division bench of the high court stated that the challenge to the constitutional validity of the 2020 rules and regulations of Trai does not hold any water. At the same time, it termed one of the twin conditions “arbitrary”, according to which the maximum retail price of an a-la-carte channel could not be more than one third of the maximum rate of a channel in the bouquet.

    The court had passed the judgement on petitions filed by several broadcasters under the umbrella of the Indian Broadcasting Foundation (IBF) including Zee Entertainment, Star India, TV18, and Sony Pictures Network India (SPN) who had opposed the order, challenged the tariff order and termed it “arbitrary and in violation of their fundamental right.”

    According to broadcasters, the new order could lead to a drop in the subscription revenue, especially now, when the industry is reeling under pandemic-induced low advertising revenue. NTO 2.0 has prescribed linkage between a-la-carte price and bouquet, and reduced the price cap on the subscription fees for pay channels. So, TV broadcasters can include a channel in a pack only if it is priced at Rs 12 or less than that. Earlier, this limit was Rs. 19.

    The broadcasters only got partial relief when the high court struck down one of the twin conditions relating to the average pricing of a channel in a bouquet terming it as ‘arbitrary’. This will allow broadcasters to increase the number of channels they want to provide in the bouquet and enhance the value delivered to consumers.

    According to the condition the a-la-carte rates of each pay channel (MRP), forming part of a bouquet, shall in no case exceed three times the average rate of a pay channel of that bouquet. So, if the maximum price of a channel in a pack was Rs.12, a broadcaster could not charge more than four rupees for an a-la-carte channel.

    The high court had also extended its previous interim order, asking Trai not to take any coercive action against the broadcasters, if they did not implement the new tariff order. The order was extended for the next six weeks.

  • Reliance Jio maintains lead, gains 4.7 million users in April: TRAI

    Reliance Jio maintains lead, gains 4.7 million users in April: TRAI

    New Delhi: Reliance Jio’s reign over the market continues, as the telecom major added 4.7 million mobile subscribers in April, according to the latest data released by Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI). Its subscriber base has now reached 427.6 million across the country.

    The Mukesh Ambani-led company had earlier doubled the net mobile user additions in March compared to February.

    However, its rival Vodafone Idea lost 1.8 million customers in April, after gaining 1.08 million subscribers in March. Its subscriber base has now dropped to 281.9 million in April.

    Bharti Airtel also recorded a decline in the number of net subscriber additions. The company added 0.51 million wireless customers in April, compared to 4.05 million subscribers in March. Its user base rose marginally to 352.9 million.


    x`Overall, the number of telephone subscribers in India increased from 1,201.20 million at the end of March to 1,203.47 million at the end of April, showing a monthly growth rate of 0.19 per cent over the previous month. “The monthly growth rates of urban and rural telephone subscription were 0.08 per cent and 0.32 per cent, respectively, during the month of April,” said the regulatory body.

    The overall tele-density in India increased from 88.17 per cent at the end of March to 88.27 per cent at the end of April. The share of urban subscribers in the total number of telephone subscribers at the end of April was 55.20 per cent, while it was 44.80 per cent for the rural areas.

    As per the reports received from 438 operators in the month of April, 2021, the number of broadband subscribers increased from 778.09 million at the end of March to 782.86 million at the end of April with a monthly growth rate of 0.61 per cent, said TRAI.

    The top five service providers constituted 98.8 per cent market share of the total broadband subscribers at the end of April. These included- Reliance Jio Infocomm (430.47 million), Bharti Airtel (194.18 million), Vodafone Idea (122.54 million), BSNL (24.52 million) and Atria Convergence (1.87 million).