TRAI – Page 8 – RTN asia

Murdoch’s Star India against TRAI move to re-examine net neutrality

2015-05-122018-03-08 | Prashant Duggal

Rupert Murdoch-owned Start India – one of India’s biggest broadcasting companies – has come out strongly against the Indian telecom regulator’s move to let telecom operators side-step the so-called net neutrality principles in the country. UPDATE: Airtel Digital has removed all Star channels from all its packs. https://ultra.news/s-e/38651/bhartis-airtel-digital-removes-all-star-india-channels-from-its-packs Star India, formerly Start TV, wondered why […]

Why telco’s no-level-playing-field argument on net neutrality is wrong

2015-04-282015-04-28 | Sanjay Kumar

The main argument put forward by telecom operators in the ongoing net neutrality consultation with regulator TRAI is that they are forced to pay a lot of levies, which the apps do not pay any of them. This, according to the service providers, creates a ‘non level playing field’ and therefore, the app providers, such […]

Idea Cellular says net neutrality will raise data price to Rs 1,000-2,500 per GB

2015-04-272015-04-28 | Prashant Duggal

Idea Cellular has warned that companies like itself will have to raise data prices to 108-250 paise/MB (Rs 1,105-2,560 per GB) if government imposes net neutrality on wireless providers. This would required as voice call rates will fall to 7.5 paise per minute if net neutrality is allowed in the current situation, Idea Cellular said. […]

Stop using 111 for Customer Care – TRAI to Vodafone

2015-03-022015-03-02 | Deepti Rajan

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India has directed Vodafone to stop using 111 as its customer care number. The authority pointed out that such a number was not in consonance with the national numbering plan. The numbering plan did not have any place for three digit customer care numbers. Currently three digit numbers, such as […]

COLUMN: Why Khullar’s VOIP comments are not fully correct

2014-12-292014-12-29 | Prashant Duggal

Rahul Khullar is IAS officer with an excellent reputation in Delhi circles. He’s reputed to be honest, frank (even blunt) and very efficient. But the TRAI chairman’s latest suggestions on Bharti Airtel’s separate-billing-for-VOIP data scheme do not paint a full picture of the situation. In an FE interview, he seems to have made broadly two […]

TRAI pushes DoT to auction surrendered Tata DoCoMo, BSNL spectrum

2014-11-282014-11-28 | Prashant Duggal

The department of telecom has opposed TRAI’s suggestion to auction the CDMA spectrum surrendered by Tata Teleservices (Tata DoCoMo) in the upcoming auctions, saying that there is a chance that the spectrum may have to be returned to the operator. However, in its response to DoT’s doubts, the TRAI reiterated that the spectrum should be […]

Times Group wants TRAI to save the Internet from greedy telcos via Net Neutrality

2014-11-102014-11-10 | Prashant Duggal

In an especially strong attack against perceived threats to its Internet-based business, the Times of India group has sought regulatory intervention to ensure what is popularly called Net Neutrality, or the concept that internet service providers must charge only from the end consumer. In other words, the Times of India group wants TRAI to ensure […]

TRAI spectrum recommendations major boost to Idea, RCom; good for broadband

2014-10-152014-10-15 | Prashant Duggal

The telecom regulator’s recommendations on spectrum auction are likely to help Idea Cellular and Reliance Communications – two companies which were facing the highest risk of business disruption from the upcoming auctions. The TRAI has suggested that the auction of 900-1800 MHz spectrum be put on hold till issues around the availability of 3G spectrum […]

RAW: Summary of TRAI’s recommendations on Spectrum Auction 2015

2014-10-152014-10-15 | Prashant Duggal

The following is the quick summary of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI)’s recommendations on auction of spectrum and licenses expiring next year. The Authority recommends that 1.2 MHz spectrum in 900 MHz band should be taken back from BSNL from all the LSAs where licences expire in 2015-16 except in Punjab. In lieu, […]

TRAI asks Loop to tell subscribers it’s shutting down

2014-10-12 | Prashant Duggal

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India has asked Loop Mobile to inform its subscribers that it would stop its services in its only circle, Mumbai, permanently on November 28. Loop Mobile did not participate in the Mumbai spectrum auction and therefore has no spectrum to continue its services once its license expires on November 28. […]

TRAI asks: How can we improve broadband coverage in India?

2014-09-24 | Deepti Rajan

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India has started consultation on how to promote broadband penetration in the country through both wireless, copper and fiber technologies. “India ranks 125th in the world for Fixed Broadband penetration with only 1.2 per 100 inhabitants having access to fixed broadband. With the world average being 9.4 per 100 inhabitants, […]

TRAI to fine cable operators missing digitization

2014-08-28 | Prashant Duggal

All the cable operators who are dragging their heels on implementing digitization need to watch out as the regulator has suggested imposing lakhs, or even crores of rupees as fines for delays in billing and other requirements. “In the cases where any non-compliance of the regulations 15(1) or 15(5) is observed by the Authority, a […]

TRAI details corruption in Indian Media

2014-08-122014-08-12 | Deepti Rajan

You are unlikely to read about the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India’s latest recommendations on Media ownership in tomorrow’s newspaper, or hear about it on tonight’s prime time TV. That is because it is perhaps the biggest ‘expose’ of the not-so-wholesome, behind-the-scenes activities in Indian media ever, except perhaps the famous Radia tapes issue. In […]

TRAI recommends a 50% increase in 800 MHz spectrum reserve prices

2014-02-222014-02-22 | Prashant Duggal

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India has, for the third time, recommended to the government to charge a decent amount of price for the 800 MHz spectrum that it is about to sell to CDMA, or other, operators next month. It suggested a 50% increase in reserve prices for the 800 MHz spectrum compared to […]

TRAI says new rules won’t increase cable, DTH bill, or hurt LCOs

2012-12-192018-12-19 | Sreejiraj Eluvangal

Telecom Regulatory Authority of India has dismissed the “fabrications and concoctions” being circulated on social media about the new tariff rules that will come into effect on December 29. In a statement, the regulator countered two broad concerns on the upcoming tariff scheme — that consumers will have to pay far more to watch their […]