ITV

Tag: Trai

  • Trai urges unified licensing to spur next generation networks

    Trai urges unified licensing to spur next generation networks

    MUMBAI: Telecom regulator Trai today said that operators should be encouraged to move to next generation networks (NGN) for effective utilisation of spectrum for mobile services asked government to act fast on unified licensing regime to make NGN a reality.

    Trai’s recommendations for a unified licensing regime, dated 13th January 2005, should be considered expeditiously so that various operators can make best use of NGN platform to provide all types of telecom, data, video and broadcast services through a single licence, Trai said in its recommendations.

    A statement issued by Trai today says: “Due to technological advancements there is a trend towards unification of networks & services leading to the emergence of Next Generation Networks, which are predominantly IP based. The NGNs enable the service providers to provide a wide range of services (voice, data, video) over the same platform.”

    In addition, NGNs also enable fixed-mobile convergence / substitution resulting into reduced demand on mobile services spectrum, the statement points out.

    Increase in broadband penetration is a must for wider deployment of NGN services and since the policy targets for broadband have not been met, it is time to undertake the review of various recommendations on broadband access related issues, Trai said, adding that unless various operators are able to deploy NGN in access to provide multiple services its full benefits cannot be made available to customers.

  • Trai moots Rs 50 million entry fee for convergence licence

    Trai moots Rs 50 million entry fee for convergence licence

    MUMBAI: Cable TV operators will have much to cheer with this recommendation from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai). The broadcast and telecom regulator has suggested a much lower levy of Rs 50 million as entry fee for national and international long distance licence (NLD/ILD) in the converged scenario.

    Trai had earlier suggested Rs 1.07 billion, making it expensive for cable operators to move into telephony services. “If the government approves Trai’s recommendation, it will particularly benefit us as we are planning to enter into the triple play area,” says Siticable CEO Jagjit Kohli. Siticable, a leading multi-system operator (MSO), is a wholly owned subsidiary of Zee Telefilms.

    While asking the government to approve its unified licensing recommendations at the earliest, Trai also said in a release today that there should be reduction in the entry fee to reflect the changes made in the entry fee for NLD/ILD licence. “The entry fee should come down to Rs 50 million as against Rs 1.07 billion recommended earlier and this should further reduce to Rs 300,000 after five years as already recommended,” it said.

    In order to promote convergence and competition in broadcasting and telecommunications, the regulator has called for the clearance of the Communications Convergence Bill, 2001, albeit with some modifications. “There should be converged regulatory regime. The starting point for this exercise should be the Communications Convergence Bill, 2001. However, several changes need to be made in this Bill. Content regulation should be kept out of the purview of the converged regulator. The division of powers between the Government, TDSAT and TRAI should also broadly correspond to what is presently the position,” Trai said, releasing the recommendations on convergence.

    “Convergence of technologies is rapidly blurring the boundaries between telecommunications and broadcasting. It is necessary for the legal and regulatory framework to adapt to this convergence and actively promote such convergence. This would also help in facilitating competition,” the regulator said.

  • Trai asks DTH operators to file inter-connect agreements with broadcasters

    Trai asks DTH operators to file inter-connect agreements with broadcasters

    NEW DELHI: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) today directed DTH operators to file with the designated authority their inter-connect agreements with various broadcasters.

    This move, the regulator said, will be in addition to an existing obligation placed on the broadcasters, in terms of a 31 December 2004 directive, to file their inter-connect agreements entered with a DTH operator.

    “The amendment to (regulations) for filing by the DTH operator has been done to facilitate better monitoring and to provide for specific informational requirements relevant to DTH platform,” Trai said in a statement soon after a Delhi court directed the government to plan rollout of CAS within four weeks.

    Since the number of agreements that would be entered into by a DTH operator with broadcasters will not be voluminous as in the case of cable TV, it should be possible to provide for filing of copies of individual agreements, Trai explained, nipping in the bud any criticism of such a move.

    The regulator would separately be specifying the procedure to be adopted by DTH operators for the filing(s) after amended regulations are notified.

    On 31 December 2004, Trai had issued regulations for filing and registration of interconnect agreements entered into by broadcasters with service providers under different platforms.

    In line with the detailed recommendations of TRAI on issues relating to broadcasting and distribution of TV channels, it was stated in paragraph 5 of the explanatory memorandum to the above regulation that the agreements entered into between a MSO and a local cable operator (LCO) shall be registered with the authorized officers under the Cable Act.

    Subsequently, on 2 December 2005, these regulations were amended to bring about flexibility in adopting procedures as regard to the manner of filing, formats of filing, etc of the inter-connect agreements.