Radio Trunking Operators To Be Allowed Access To Local Phones

Private mobile radio trunking service (PMRTS) operators are set to get direct connectivity to the public switched telephone networks (PSTN) of the department of telecommunications (DoT) and Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd (MTNL). DoT is expected to issue an order to this effect next month.

PSTN-connectivity has been a long-standing demand of the PMRTS companies, which have projected the service as the poor mans cellular phone. A radio service, PMRTS enables point-to-point interconnectivity within closed-user groups of subscribers. Allowing PSTN-connecivity will mean that PMRTS users will be able to call DoT and MTNL subscribers.

In addition to PSTN-connectivity, the department is expected to allow PMRTS operators to interconnect their networks. The companies will be permitted to connect their networks within the same city directly. But for networks spread across various cities, the operators will be allowed to interconnect only through DoT or MTNL links, sources said.

However, DoT has not worked out the tariffs that the operators will be allowed to charge for PMRTS-to-PSTN calls. The tariff for inter-city PMRTS calling has also not been fixed. Once the decision is officially taken, we will start working on tariffs and interconnect charges, a DoT official said.

PMRTS companies have welcomed the DoT move to allow them PSTN- and inter-network connectivity. PSTN-connectivity will increase the value of the service (to the customer) and will lead to a rapid spread of the service, a PMRTS company executive said.

The inter-network connectivity move has also been applauded by the operators. There are several potential corporate customers which want connectivity across several cities. Inter-network connectivity will mean that the users can talk across networks which can be different cities.

The tender for MRTS in January 1995 had disallowed connection to PSTN networks and inter-networking among various locations. PMRTS licensees in the country were issued last year. Out of 84 letter of intent (LoI) holders, 30-and-odd companies are serious about starting the service. Some of the companies have LoIs to operate services in as many as 25 cities.

Earlier, the Mobile Trunked Radio Operators Association of India (MTROAI) had asked for a reduction in DoT charges. Under the current structure, the operators will be paying Rs 1,200 per susbscriber a year as Rs 700 licence fee and Rs 500 as wireless, planning and coordination wing (of DoT) royalty. In addition to this the operators will have to pay Rs 250 per subscriber a year as on an average for frequency bands. The department has not taken a final decision on this MTROAI request.

Further, the association wanted a review of the loading-per-channel (a measure of traffic) norm as specified by DoT. In the tender, the department had specified a loading of 90 subcribers per channel assuming talk times based on international experiences. DoT also insisted that if after six months, the loading was less than 70 per cent in terms of regular traffic, it may withdraw the radio channel assignment without any notice to the licensee.