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Trai seeks views on allocation of more spectrum to Railways for safety

Telecom regulator Trai on Wednesday sought stakeholders' views on the assignment of additional spectrum to Indian railways for safety and security applications. The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) in mid-2023 had informed Trai that Indian Railways has requested for an additional 5 MHz of paired spectrum in the 700 MHz band to be allocated for enhancing its safety and security systems. The DoT had requested Trai to examine and provide its recommendations on the matter. "The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) has today released a consultation paper on the assignment of additional spectrum to Indian railways for its safety and security applications," the regulator said in a release. In the consultation paper, Trai sought stakeholder views on whether an additional 5 MHz (paired) spectrum in the 700 MHz band should be assigned to Indian Railways (IR) for its requirement related to safety and security applications, and whether spectrum harmonisation is needed to make the

Cybersecurity co claims data leak of telecom users, DoT demands audit

The Department of Telecom has asked service operators for a security audit of their systems following claims by a cybersecurity firm that data of 750 million Indian subscribers has been leaked, a government official said. Cybersecurity firm CloudSEK has claimed that its researchers have found that hackers are selling 1.8 terabyte of database comprising 750 million Indian mobile consumers on the dark web. The hacker has denied any involvement in a breach and has claimed to have obtained the data through undisclosed asset work within law enforcement channels, CloudSEK said. "The DoT has asked telecom operators to get a security audit of their systems," a senior government official said. The officer, however, said that telecom operators have informally shared with the department that the leaked information claimed in the ClouSEK report seems to be a compilation of old data sets of telecom subscribers and it is not due to any vulnerability in their system. CloudSEK in its report last

DoT asks telecom operators to block malicious overseas calls about bourses

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has cautioned the public about malicious calls from international numbers spreading false information about Indian stock exchanges, and advised people to report such cases to telecom operators. Such malicious calls are initiated by anti-national elements and are aimed at creating panic, an official release said, adding that the telecom operators have been directed to block malicious calls from such numbers. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), DoT cautioned the public about malicious calls from international numbers spreading false information about Indian stock exchanges. "The recorded message urges to sell Indian stocks before March 12, claiming impending destruction of BSE and NSE," as per a DoT social media alert. Regarding the malicious calls, the release said, "Citizens, on receiving such calls, are advised to report to DoT at help-sancharsaathi@gov.in or their telecom service providers.

Second time in 6 mths: DoT invites applications for Trai chairman post

The DoT had first advertised for the position on June 22

Advisory issued against calls threatening disconnection of mobile services

The Department of Telecom on Friday issued an advisory regarding calls threatening people with disconnection of their mobile services. The Department of Telecom (DoT), which governs telecom services in the country, alerted citizens about a surge in malicious calls whereby it is being said that the receivers' mobile numbers will be disconnected within two hours by the DoT. "The DoT does not make calls to citizens threatening disconnection. Citizens are urged to exercise caution and not provide any personal information if they receive such calls," the advisory said. In the advisory, the DoT urged citizens to not share any personal information if they receive a call threatening disconnection. "Verify the authenticity of such calls with your service providers. Be aware that the DoT does not communicate disconnection warnings via phone calls. Any such call should be treated as suspicious," the advisory said. The DoT asked citizens to report any suspicious calls at the National Cyber Cr

Simulated flights can end 5G signals dispute around airports, says COAI

The resultant dispute on this between telecom service providers and airlines has not been resolved

Reliance Jio seeks permission from DoT to widen E-band spectrum use

DoT was informed by Jio that its requirement to use E-band for access services is in alignment with international standards of 3GPP

Tata Communications challenges DoT's Rs 991.5 cr fee demand in TDSAT

Tata Communications has challenged Telecom Department's Rs 991.5 crore licence fee demand pertaining to past years, in TDSAT, which has directed the DoT not to take any coercive action till the next hearing, the company said in a filing on Friday. The Department of Telecom (DoT) in its demand letter dated August 8, 2023, has raised certain license-fee demands of Rs 991.54 crore pertaining to FY 2006-07 (international long-distance and internet service provider) and FY 2007-08 (NLD, ILD and ISP). "These demands have been challenged by the company before...TDSAT (Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal), wherein after hearing both the parties, ...TDSAT, vide its order dated 14 August 2023 received by the company on 17 August 2023, has directed DoT not to take any coercive action till the next hearing," Tata Communications said in a BSE filing. The company further said it has already included the amount in dispute as part of the notes to accounts in the quarterly financial .

Received 'emergency alert: severe' text on your phone? Here's what it means

The government said the alert system ensures that necessary emergency info reaches the maximum number of people in a timely manner

DoT relaxes spectrum trading norm, allows radiowave trade in frequency band

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has relaxed spectrum trading norms by allowing operators to trade radiowaves in a frequency band as per the block size notified in the last auction, according to guidelines published on Wednesday. The modification in spectrum trading guidelines allows telecom operators to lease spectrum to captive non-public network licence holders that use radiowaves for internal business requirements. "The block sizes of Access Spectrum to be traded in different spectrum band(s) shall be as per the block size(s) as specified in the NIA (notice inviting application) for the latest auction held. Further, if there is any residual spectrum to be traded, it may be considered on pro-rata basis," the new guideline said. Earlier, telecom operators were allowed to trade spectrum in block size ranging 1.25 megahertz (Mhz) paired spectrum to up to 20 Mhz in higher frequency bands of 2,300 and 2,500 Mhz. The modification allows telecom operators to trade spectrum in

Govt portal pins 285,000 missing phones, but only 20,771 recovered

However, recoveries stand at only 20,771 devices so far

Telcos to pay fee for activities covered under scope of licence, says DoT

In September 2021, the government had notified that non-telecom revenue would be excluded from the definition of AGR from October 1, 2021

Satcom spectrum allotment: Prefer auction for allotment, says DoT

DoT officials were quoted as saying that satcom airwaves should be given to the highest bidder since several firms are trying to enter the market

DoT to take decision on satellite earth station gateways next week

In November 2022, Trai had recommended a separate pan-India licence for assembling satellite earth station gateways

India Mobile Congress 2023 to be held from October 27-29 at Pragati Maidan

The event will be themed around "Global Digital Innovation" and will showcase 6G and advancements in 5G networks

DoT likely to approach Trai for auction of new spectrum bands this week

The Department of Telecom is likely to approach sector regulator Trai this week for auction of a set of spectrum bands as well as radio waves held by permits that are due to expire in 2024, an official source said. The source said that DoT is expected to hold the auction in the March quarter of the current fiscal. "DoT will send reference to Trai in a couple of days for auction of 37 GHz band and radio waves of telecom licenses that are due for renewal in 2024," the source told PTI on condition of anonymity. The reference is likely to include the auction of spectrum in 600 megahertz band as well as the frequency that remained unsold in the auction held in 2022. The government had put on offer spectrum in 10 bands but received no bids for airwaves in 600 MHz, 800 MHz and 2300 MHz bands. About two-thirds of the bids were for the 5G bands (3300 Mhz and 26 GHz), while more than a quarter of the demand came in the 700 Mhz band -- a band that had gone unsold in the previous two auctions

TRAI agreed to fresh talks on regulating OTTs after big DoT push: officials

The telecom authority regulator had earlier ruled out regulations for OTTs, now feels the need to bring together stakeholders, officials say

Telecom department overhauls vigilance mechanism, revokes officers' power

Previously, vigilance clearance for field officials was handled by the respective vigilance officers

Govt planning to launch 6G network by 2030, says Ashwini Vaishnaw

A 15-member Bharat 6G Alliance will focus on how to give highly differentiated experience for sectors such as health and education and how to increase productivity across the country

DoT sets up war room to ensure Biparjoy doesn't disrupt connectivity

Officials said DoT will give updates twice a day about how many sites have been affected and what contingent measures have been taken by telecom operators