Trai seeks BSNL's help in providing inter-connectivity

Expressing serious concern over persisting problems in inter-connectivity between operators, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) today urged state-owned BSNL to cooperate by setting up inter-connect exchanges in state capitals across the country.

Speaking here today, Trai Chairman Nripendra Mishra said inter-connectivity had been a major problem with operators. He said Trai had not been able to enforce inter-connectivity since the law was very weak.

According to Mishra, by being the biggest telecom operator in the country, BSNL had a role to play in providing inter-connectivity to private operators. This, he said, would be required to meet the target of achieving 50 crore lines by 2010.

Mishra, who assumed charge as Trai Chairman in March 2006, said the regulatory body was also preparing its recommendations on 3G spectrum policy to the government. He said Trai was expected to submit them by September 30, 2006.

Mishra said the telecom industry was also in the process of appointing an ombudsman who would look into the complaints of consumers.

He said the guidelines for the functioning of the ombudsman would be framed by the Cellular Operators Association of India and the Association of Unified Service Providers of India .

Mishra also said neither the telecom department nor the regulator would have any role in the appointment of the ombudsman, adding that funding of the post would have to have to be provided by the industry.

It was expected that the ombudsman appointment would be made within six weeks, he said. On rural telephony, Mishra said the universal service obligation (USO) fund would have to be utilised to meet the objective.

Saying that with convergence emerging as an important issue in the coming days, Mishra said it was expected that Trai's role would not get diluted in future.