Page 4 - Coai

OTT comms services should be licenced, compensate telecom firms: COAI

Telecom operators' body COAI on Tuesday made a strong pitch for OTT (over-the-top) communications services to directly compensate telcos for data traffic they are driving onto the networks, as it advocated a licencing and light-touch regulation framework for such services. Cellular Operators' Association of India (COAI), Director General, SP Kochhar said that the association, as part of draft telecom bill, has given its suggestions on how OTT communications services should be defined, to ensure there is no ambiguity. The other aspects like proposing a financial model for OTT communications services to compensate telecom service providers, through a possible revenue share model, will be made to the government going forward as and when the specifics of the framework for light-touch regulation is discussed, Kochhar told reporters at a briefing. In future, the same principle of revenue share basis data consumption, can be applied to other OTTs (all categories), as well, he added.

OTT apps: COAI bats for 'same service, same rules' under draft telecom Bill

Industry body argues for 'same service, same rules', says current disparities give OTT players privileges but not responsibilities

Govt should not allow backdoor entry to Big Tech for 5G auctions: COAI

The COAI said in a statement that the 5G spectrum should not be provided on an administrative basis as it leads to no business case for the rollout of 5G networks in the country

Captive network a back-door entry to BigTech companies, says COAI

In its guidelines on captive non-public networks, the government has allowed direct allotment of spectrum to enterprises

COAI writes to DoT, demands tough norms for captive private networks

It had written to DoT secretary K Rajaraman in this regard on June 18

COAI names Reliance Jio's Pramod Mittal as Chairperson for 2022-23

Mittal was previously the Vice Chairperson of the Cellular Operators' Association of India (COAI), whose members include Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea (VIL)

DoT ignores telcos' protest, favours 5G spectrum sale for captive networks

Enterprises setting up private captive networks may obtain the spectrum directly from the DoT, says a media report

No reason for direct allocation of 5G spectrum to enterprises: COAI

According to COAI, there is no case to alienate spectrum directly to companies for captive private networks

How prepared are we to roll out next-generation mobile networks?

PM Modi recently said that India is planning to launch 6G services by the end of this decade. But are we ready? While the 5G launch still looks like a distant dream, this report does a reality check

High 5G spectrum prices may push players up against the wall: COAI DG

The spectrum auctions are slated to be conducted in 2022, to facilitate the rollout of 5G mobile services within 2022-23, by private telecom providers.

Govt mulls dropping pre-call announcements on phones after 2 yrs of Covid

Sources DoT has written to Union Health Ministry requesting it to drop these pre-call announcements and caller tunes

COAI, GSMA sign pact to advance mobile telecommunications in India

The memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed in Barcelona by COAI Director-General S P Kochhar and GSMA Head (Asia-Pacific) Julian Gorman

COAI allays signal blockage fears, says 5G and aviation can safely co-exist

In US, some 50 airports will have temporary buffer zones to ban 5G; step undertaken after representation by industry bodies seeking solutions to prioritise safety and avoid air traffic disruption

Fully support idea of deploying 5G 'small cells' on electric poles: COAI

The association noted that a key driver of effective 5G implementation is deployment of small cells

COAI asks government to reduce 5G spectrum base price by more than half

In the first auction of radio airwaves in five years in March 2021, the government offered 2,308.80 MHz of spectrum in seven bands

Spectrum reforms, future allocation norms will ease burden on telcos: COAI

COAI said spectrum reforms notified by government including removal of financial bank guarantee requirements, and scrapping of SUC for future auctions would ease financial burden on operators

Telecom package to provide some relief to stressed sector: COAI

Telecom industry body COAI lauded telecom relief package approved by the Cabinet, which will be implemented prospectively and provide a breather to the sector that is reeling under heavy stress.

Trai's suggestion to waive RoW charges to reduce network rollout cost: COAI

Telecom regulator Trai's recommendation to waive right of way charges for the next five years will significantly reduce the overall cost of network rollout for companies, industry body COAI said

COAI says telecom among most heavily taxed sectors, seeks relief from govt

Industry body COAI has urged the government for financial reforms in the telecom sector, making a strong pitch for cuts in levies, doubling the tenure of auctioned radio wave holdings

Fixing floor prices critical amid financial stress in telecom: COAI

The association said floor prices need to be fixed for data only for an interim period, say two years, and that voice calls and tariffs can be excluded from this.