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Tag: Trai

  • Indian broadcasters push for separate commercial TV rates as streaming bites

    Indian broadcasters push for separate commercial TV rates as streaming bites

    MUMBAI: Indian television broadcasters are mounting a fierce campaign to restore separate pricing for commercial and household subscribers, arguing that forcing hotels and restaurants to pay the same rates as ordinary homes is killing their business. 

    The Indian Broadcasting and Digital Foundation (IBDF), which represents the country’s main TV networks, has petitioned the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) to scrap uniform pricing rules introduced in 2015. The lobby group contends that charging a Mumbai hotel chain the same rates as a middle-class family is not just outdated—it is commercial suicide. 

    “Like every other industry, TV services should recognise the higher value and different use cases in commercial environments,” the IBDF argued in its submission to TRAI. Before 2015, broadcasters enjoyed the freedom to charge premium rates to businesses and negotiate terms directly with commercial customers. That changed when TRAI imposed a one-size-fits-all pricing regime, stripping away broadcasters’ ability to set distinct commercial tariffs. Now, as television viewership plummets in favour of digital streaming platforms like Netflix,  Amazon Prime Video, JioHotstar, Z5 and SonyLiv,  broadcasters are fighting for their financial lives. 

    They argue that restoring separate, higher tariffs for commercial users could help the traditional TV industry weather the streaming storm. 

    TRAI has launched a review of the pricing structure and is consulting stakeholders—including broadcasters, direct-to-home providers, and cable operators—on whether uniform rates should continue. The regulator has not indicated when it might reach a decision. 

    The IBDF has branded the current rules as “too restrictive” and wants a return to flexible, market-driven negotiations with commercial subscribers. For an industry grappling with declining reach and stagnant subscription revenues, every rupee counts.

     The outcome of TRAI’s review could reshape India’s television landscape, determining whether broadcasters can extract more value from their dwindling commercial customer base or remain trapped in a uniform pricing straitjacket as viewers continue their exodus to streaming services.  

  • India adds 2.7 million new telecom users in July, led by Jio

    India adds 2.7 million new telecom users in July, led by Jio

    MUMBAI: India’s telecom dial tone got a bit louder this July, as the country added a net 2.7 million new telephone connections, taking the total subscriber base to 1,180.87 million, according to TRAI’s latest figures. That’s a ring in the right direction especially with wireless connections doing the heavy lifting. Wireless subscriptions grew by 2.74 million, pushing the total to 1,172.57 million. On the other hand, wireline subscriptions held relatively steady, dipping slightly by 7,747 users, ending the month at 8.29 million.

    The urban-rural divide saw rural India catching up, with rural wireless users increasing to 526.27 million while urban counterparts stood at 646.30 million. Urban tele-density saw a slight decline to 126.62 per cent, while rural tele-density edged up to 58.66 per cent as reported by TRAI.

    Jio continued to be the star caller in town, adding a whopping 3.16 million wireless subscribers, cementing its lead with 458.95 million users. Bharti Airtel held strong in second with 383.57 million, gaining 1.11 million subscribers. Vodafone Idea continued its slow slide, losing 1.32 million subscribers, taking its count to 218.49 million.

    But not all subscribers are equal when it comes to active users, Jio again leads with a 104.08 per cent VLR (visitor location register), indicating some dual SIM overlap. Airtel boasted a healthy 99.21 per cent active base, while Vi clocked in at 87.17 per cent. BSNL trailed behind with only 50.64 per cent of its users actively using services.

    On the MNP (mobile number portability) front, Indians are still keeping their digits mobile with 12.94 million requests in July alone, bringing the all-time total to a staggering 921.94 million.

    In the wireline game, Jio added 0.25 million subscribers, now holding 33.11 per cent market share, while BSNL shed 0.20 million, dropping to 23.03 per cent. Airtel’s steady ship saw it maintain a 22.97 per cent slice.

    Meanwhile, broadband connections both wired and wireless stood strong at 940.52 million, led by Reliance Jio (487.59 million), Airtel (264.33 million), and Vodafone Idea (125.08 million).

    So, while some telcos may be dropping calls and customers India’s telecom sector as a whole is still very much in signal, especially as it tunes into deeper rural penetration and data-led digital expansion.

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  • Cable TV lobby slams TRAI’s DTH licence fee waiver call

    Cable TV lobby slams TRAI’s DTH licence fee waiver call

    NEW DELHI – India’s top cable lobby has sounded the alarm over TRAI’s proposal to slash and eventually scrap licence fees for Direct-to-Home (DTH) operators, warning it could wreck the delicate balance in the country’s broadcast distribution ecosystem.

    In a strongly-worded representation to the information and broadcasting ministry, the All India Digital Cable Federation (AIDCF) – which represents over 880 multi-system operators (MSOs) and 1.6 lakh local cable operators (LCOs) – said the move would “deepen regulatory inequality” and “threaten over 10 lakh livelihoods” linked to the cable TV industry.

    The AIDCF accused TRAI of tilting the scales in favour of DTH players who already enjoy “cost-free, administratively allocated spectrum” while cable operators continue to bleed under high Right of Way (RoW) charges and hefty underground infrastructure investments.

    “A DTH licence fee waiver will distort competition and violate regulatory neutrality,” an AIDCF spokesperson said, adding that any cut would hasten subscriber churn from cable to satellite platforms. The body flagged other disruptors like Free Dish, OTTs, Fast TV and digital DPOs as further stress points for the struggling cable sector.

    Rather than easing licence costs for satellite platforms, AIDCF wants the government to implement a fair cost recovery mechanism across distribution platforms, reflecting the true commercial value of spectrum. It has urged the ministry to junk TRAI’s recommendation in favour of a level playing field that safeguards the sector’s long-term viability.

  • India’s telecom scene rings in mixed signals in 2024-25

    India’s telecom scene rings in mixed signals in 2024-25

    MUMBAI: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has released its annual performance indicators report for 2024-25 and the numbers show a curious mix of gains, drops and digital twists in India’s ever-buzzing telecom space.

    India added 14.7 million internet users over the year, nudging the total base to a hefty 969.1 million by March 2025, a modest growth of 1.54 per cent. Of these, a dominant 944.12 million are broadband surfers, up 2.17 per cent, while the slow-lane narrowband crowd shrank 17.66 per cent to just 24.98 million.

    Wireless users are spending more. Average revenue per user (arpu) for wireless shot up 16.89 per cent to Rs174.46 a month. Prepaid arpu jumped sharply from Rs 146.37 to Rs 173.84. Postpaid users, though, spent less, their arpu dipped to Rs180.86 from Rs 184.63.

    Talk time also climbed. The average subscriber chatted for 1,000 minutes a month, up from 963 the previous year. But again, the prepaid crowd did the heavy lifting, their usage rose to 1,047 minutes, while postpaid users spoke less, clocking just 503 minutes.

    The total number of telephone subscribers in India edged up marginally to 1,200.80 million, a limp 0.13 per cent rise. But while wireline made a surprising comeback with a 9.62 per cent jump (now at 37.04 million users), mobile telephony lost ground. Wireless subscribers fell by 1.74 million, a 0.15 per cent dip with a sharper 8.5 million drop for mobile-only users (excluding 5G FWA). Overall wireless teledensity slipped to 82.42 per cent.

    Interestingly, rural areas clung on rural subscriptions rose 0.15 per cent to 534.69 million. But rural teledensity inched down from 59.19 to 59.06 per cent. Urban teledensity, meanwhile, dropped more steeply from 133.72 to 131.45 per cent.

    India’s mobile data addiction shows no signs of slowing. Wireless data users grew 2.87 per cent to 939.51 million, and total data consumed soared to 2,28,779 petabytes, a 17.46 per cent rise. Revenues from this data deluge? A cool Rs 2.15 lakh crore up 15.49 per cent from last year.

    Telecom’s gross revenue hit Rs 3.72 lakh crore, up 10.72 per cent. while adjusted gross revenue (agr) rose 12.02 per cent to Rs 3.03 lakh crore. Pass-through charges, however, slid 1.31 per cent to Rs52,879 crore.

    Spectrum usage charges (suc) and licence fees went up too by 13.02 and 12.02 per cent, respectively. Access services, basically what we all use made up a commanding 83.65 per cent of agr.

    It’s not just telecom that got a review. The broadcasting scene had its own drama. India had 918 satellite TV channels licensed by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting as of March 2025, with 908 available for downlinking. But pay DTH is losing fans, subscribers dropped to 56.92 million from 61.97 million a year ago, while Doordarshan’s free DTH carried on as usual.

    In radio, the number of operational private FM stations stayed flat at 388 across 113 cities. But a shuffle at the top saw six channels from Digital Radio (Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata) merge into South Asia FM Ltd. The number of private radio operators is now 33, down from 36.

    Meanwhile, community radio keeps spreading its voice. The grassroots network now boasts 531 stations up from 494 the year before.

    The Indian telecom space is talking, streaming, and spending more, but it’s also shifting gears. Data is king, mobile’s golden days might be levelling off, wireline’s having a mini-renaissance, and DTH seems to be heading the way of the landline.

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  • TRAI telecom data: India’s rural surge, internet binge and DTH downfall ring loud in March

    TRAI telecom data: India’s rural surge, internet binge and DTH downfall ring loud in March

    MUMBAI: India’s telecom scene in March 2025 was a tale of two Indias—rural Bharat rising on data dreams and legacy players like BSNL and MTNL gasping for bars. According to TRAI’s fresh data, it was a month of gains for mobile and broadband, and growing static for DTH.

    The total number of wireless subscribers climbed slightly to 1,160.65 million, with rural India accounting for nearly 80 per cent of new additions. Villages added 1.1 million users, urban India added just 296,000—proof that the real action is beyond city limits.

    Reliance Jio was on fire, gaining 2.15 million wireless users and reinforcing its market leadership with 39.6 per cent share. Bharti Airtel added 1.03 million, keeping pace. Vodafone Idea lost nearly 700,000 subscribers, and BSNL continued its freefall with a 1.25 million loss.

    India’s broadband subscriber base touched 946.32 million, a monthly growth of 0.21 per cent. Unsurprisingly, 4G/5G mobile broadband accounted for 921.4 million of those connections—soaring on reels, reels, and more reels.

    On the wireline broadband front, Jio continued to hustle, adding over 320,000 subscribers, bringing its fixed-line share to 33.6 per cent. Airtel stayed solid with over 100,000 adds, while government dinosaurs BSNL and MTNL lost tens of thousands more. Between sluggish service and vanishing relevance, they’ve become the landline’s last rites.

    In the home entertainment arena, the direct-to-home (DTH) sector saw a slide. Total active DTH subscribers dropped to 64.17 million from 64.45 million—a fall of over 278,000 users in just one month.

    Cord-cutting is no longer a western trend; it’s happening across Indian homes as OTT apps and smart TVs eat into satellite’s share. Operators like Tata Play and Airtel Digital are still holding their ground, but the writing is on the (living room) wall.

    The big takeaway? Rural India is dialling up, streaming more, and finally enjoying digital parity. Jio’s aggressive expansion is paying off across both mobile and fibre, while BSNL’s steady subscriber bleed raises existential questions.

    DTH is beginning to look like the landline of television. The OTT wave is here, and it’s pulling viewers—and revenue—away from satellite.

    With spectrum auctions around the corner and AI-fuelled data demands skyrocketing, India’s telecom race is less about who picks up the call—and more about who controls the cloud.

  • TRAI dials up a united front as regulators join forces to fight digital spam

    TRAI dials up a united front as regulators join forces to fight digital spam

    MUMBAI: If spam calls and scam messages are the villains of our digital age, India’s top regulators are teaming up like superheroes. On 25 April 2025, TRAI hosted a meeting of the Joint Committee of Regulators (JCoR) at its New Delhi headquarters, bringing together heavyweights from RBI, IRDAI, PFRDA, SEBI, MoCA, MeitY, and special invitees from DoT and MHA to chart a stronger, cross-sector response to unsolicited commercial communication (UCC) and fraudulent activities.

    Opening the session, TRAI Chairman Anil Kumar Lahoti stressed the urgent need for a collaborative approach. Highlighting the mounting threat to citizens, particularly senior citizens, Lahoti praised the JCoR’s progress but warned that “the challenges ahead demand even greater synergy and vigilance.”

    Key issues topping the agenda included the nationwide rollout of 1600 series numbers for transactional and service calls from government and financial entities. Members agreed to push for swift onboarding within their respective sectors and monitor progress closely. The Council of Administered Telecommunications (CoAT) also presented a solution offering a unified 1600-series CLI for seamless call identification across networks.

    Another major move discussed was the onboarding of commercial communication senders onto the Digital Consent Acquisition (DCA) platform. Regulators pledged to work with principal entities to ensure compliance, aiming to empower consumers with more control over who contacts them.

    Fraudulent communications and the rise of “digital arrest” scams were a serious point of concern. I4C proposed measures including deletion of unused SMS headers, swift action on fraudulent SMS identifiers, and blocking of mobile numbers and IMEIs used for scam messages. Members pledged to develop clear modalities for rapid action.

    Emerging threats from OTT and Rich Communication Services (RCS) platforms also grabbed attention. Recognising that spammers are shifting to newer communication channels, the committee decided that MeitY would engage with stakeholders to roll out spam mitigation strategies mirroring those in traditional telecom.

    The session closed on a determined note, with JCoR members agreeing to intensify collaboration across sectors. The goal? A safer, more secure digital communication ecosystem for India’s consumers, one where fraudsters find it harder to hide and trust travels faster than spam.

  • Indian mobile count goes up as does broadband: TRAI data Jan 2025

    Indian mobile count goes up as does broadband: TRAI data Jan 2025

    MUMBAI: India’s telecom sector added a modest 2.1 million net subscribers in January 2025, nudging the total count to 1.19 billion, according to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India’s monthly data release. But it wasn’t all smooth signal—wireline connections tanked, dropping over 10 per cent as TRAI shifted 5G Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) from wired to wireless accounting.

    Mobile still rules the roost, with 1.16 billion users riding the wireless wave, including 5.7 million FWA users. Urban India continued to drive growth, adding over 5 million new mobile connections. Meanwhile, rural areas quietly chipped in with just under a million more.

    Broadband subscriptions inched up 0.04 per cent to 945.16 million—an uninspiring climb, considering Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel hold over 80 per cent of the market. Wireline broadband, meanwhile, shrank slightly as users cut the cord in favour of FWA.
    MARKETSHAREDATAMobile Number Portability (MNP) remained red-hot with 14.14 million requests in Jan alone—pushing the all-time tally past 1.09 billion. Uttar Pradesh (East) and Maharashtra topped the charts for most switched loyalties.
    The market remains firmly in private hands, with Jio and Airtel leading across broadband and mobile. 

    Government-owned players like BSNL and MTNL continue to struggle, holding just 8 per cent of wireless subscribers and less than a quarter of the wireline market.

    Tele-density stood at 84.54 per cent—Delhi being the most connected with an eye-popping 274 per cent, while Bihar lagged behind at 56.6 per cent.

    And while fixed lines may be flatlining, India’s telecom story continues to be a mostly wireless wonder.

  • TRAI defends key recommendations on telecom service authorisations framework

    TRAI defends key recommendations on telecom service authorisations framework

    Department of Telecommunications (DoT) regarding several aspects of its September 2024 recommendations on the framework for service authorisations under the Telecommunications Act, 2023.

    The response follows a back-reference from the DoT dated 14 January 2025, in which the government indicated several of TRAI’s original recommendations from September 2024 may require modification or might not be accepted.

    The regulatory exchange began in June 2024 when the DoT requested TRAI’s input on terms, conditions and charges for telecommunications service authorisations under the new Act. After consultations with industry stakeholders, TRAI submitted its initial recommendations in September last year.

    Having examined the government’s concerns, TRAI has now finalised its reconsidered position. The complete response has been published on the TRAI website.

    In a detailed document, TRAI has stood firm on several key recommendations that the DoT had expressed reservations about, particularly regarding the structure of service authorisations.

    The regulator defended its position on introducing separate authorisations for satellite-based telecommunications and Machine-to-Machine (M2M) services, rejecting the DoT’s suggestion to integrate these within broader service categories. TRAI argued that separate authorisations would better promote investment and operational focus in these niche segments.

    “To attract business entities to enter the relatively underdeveloped satellite-based telecommunication service segment in the country, and to preserve the business focus of such entities, a separate service authorisation is necessary,” TRAI stated in its response.

    The authority also reiterated its recommendation that for any substantive changes to authorisation terms and conditions, the Central Government should seek TRAI’s recommendations, emphasising the importance of regulatory stability in a capital-intensive sector.

    Additionally, TRAI maintained its position on the need for sub-circle level authorisations to enable smaller service providers to operate efficiently within limited geographic areas.

    To read the full TRAI rebuttal please click here.

     

  • AROI welcomes TRAI’s broadcasting recommendations under Telecommunications Act

    AROI welcomes TRAI’s broadcasting recommendations under Telecommunications Act

     MUMBAI: This is one industry which is kind of giving the thumbs up to the recently recommended changes to  broadcasting services  by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India’s (TRAI)  under the Telecommunications Act, 2023. In fact, the radio industry has gone beyond that and has welcome the proposed changes through The Association of Radio Operators for India (AROI).

    The proposals outline significant changes to the regulatory framework, replacing the existing licensing model with a structured authorisation system intended to streamline operations and foster digital transformation.

    The key recommendations include:

    * A voluntary migration path for existing licensees until 2030, becoming mandatory thereafter
    * Technology-neutral approach to facilitate digital broadcasting transition
    * Separation of service authorisation from frequency assignment
    * Permission for private FM stations to broadcast news and current affairs for up to 10 minutes hourly
    * Allowance for terrestrial radio services to stream content online simultaneously
    * Removal of mandatory co-location requirements for FM radio stations
    * Voluntary infrastructure sharing between broadcasting and telecom providers
    * Implementation of a separate programme code and advertisement code for private radio
    * 10-year licence renewal periods with a 4  per cent adjusted gross revenue fee structure
    * Potential shift from city-wise to district-wise allocation of FM frequencies

    The Telecommunications Act, 2023, which repeals the Indian Telegraph Act of 1885, mandates authorisation for entities providing telecommunication services, though implementation dates remain pending.

    An AROI spokesperson acknowledged the recommendations as “a welcome step towards industry growth and regulatory clarity” whilst noting certain aspects may require “further discussion” to fully serve private broadcasters’ interests

  • TRAI recommends major overhaul of broadcasting services framework

    TRAI recommends major overhaul of broadcasting services framework

    MUMBAI: India’s telecoms regulator the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has recommended  comprehensive reforms in  broadcasting service authorisations, marking the most significant regulatory change recommended in the sector since the original Broadcasting Act. The new framework, aligned with the Telecommunications Act 2023, aims to modernise and streamline the industry’s regulatory landscape.

    The industry watchdog has recommended the introduction of a simplified two-tier authorisation framework. The first tier governs initial authorisation requirements for new entrants, while the second establishes compliance parameters for ongoing service provision.

    It has recommended that financial requirements be substantially revised. Direct-to-Home (DTH) operators must now maintain bank guarantees of either Rs 5 crore or 20 per cent  of two quarters’ licence fees, whichever is higher. For Head-end in the Sky (HITS) services, the regulator has reduced initial bank guarantee requirements from Rs 40 crore to Rs 5 crore, with validity periods extended from 10 to 20 years.

    In a significant move towards technological advancement, TRAI has recommended the introduction of  provisions for ground-based television channel broadcasting and low-power small-range radio services. The framework makes radio broadcasting technology-agnostic, paving the way for digital adoption.

    The regulator has also recommended the mandatory  development of interoperable set-top boxes, tasking the Telecom Engineering Centre with creating standards for both standalone devices and integrated television sets. This move aims to reduce electronic waste and enhance consumer choice.

    The new recommended framework removes mandatory co-location requirements for radio broadcasters and encourages voluntary infrastructure sharing between broadcasting and telecom providers. Radio broadcasting authorisations will be delinked from frequency assignments, with spectrum to be auctioned separately.
    Existing licence holders can voluntarily migrate to the new regime without incurring processing or entry fees. The validity period for new authorisations will commence from the migration date, regardless of existing licence periods.

    Future amendments to authorisation terms, except those related to national security, will require TRAI’s recommendations, providing regulatory stability for service providers. The reforms represent a significant step towards modernising India’s broadcasting sector while enhancing ease of doing business.

    The changes are expected to facilitate growth in both traditional and digital broadcasting services, potentially attracting new investors to the sector. Industry observers note that the reforms could particularly benefit smaller operators and new entrants, while encouraging technological innovation across the broadcasting landscape.

    To download the entire Recomended Framework for Service Authorisations for provision of Broadcasting Services under the Telecommunications Act, 2023 click  here