Page 5 - Trai

Trai rating platform to assess, rate properties on quality of connectivity

Trai has decided to set up a 'rating platform' to assess and rate properties on the quality of digital connectivity as the telecom regulator outlined an elaborate framework and norms to nudge property managers to think of a "good digital connectivity experience" for customers. Based on the quality of digital connectivity and scores awarded, the properties will be assigned star-based ratings -- ranging from one star to five. The properties for digital connectivity rating are classified into different categories - Residential, Government Properties, Commercial Establishments, Other private or public areas, Stadiums or Sports Arenas or spaces of frequent gathering and Transport corridors, Trai said. Unveiling the contours of a new rating framework on Friday, Trai noted that the coverage and quality of digital connectivity inside buildings remains a major issue despite significant coverage of the 4G (LTE) network, the rollout of the 5G network and availability of more spectrum bands. T

Madhabi Puri Buch skips House panel meet; hearing deferred amid protests

The ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) members of the PAC challenged the postponement of the meeting

Trai's new traceability rules won't disrupt e-commerce OTP services

Trai's new mandate, set to take effect on November 1, would require traceability of messages sent by principal entities, including banks, e-commerce platforms, and financial institutions

Trai releases consultation paper on T&C of network authorisations

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) on Tuesday floated a discussion paper on terms and conditions of network authorisations to be granted under the Telecom Act, 2023. DoT had approached TRAI, through a letter dated July 26, 2024, asking it to provide recommendations on terms and conditions, including fees or charges, for authorisation to establish, operate, maintain or expand telecommunication network as per the provisions of the Telecommunications Act, 2023. Subsequently, through another letter dated October 17, 2024, DoT requested TRAI to consider an authorisation for satellite communication network under Telecommunications Act, 2023. "In this regard, a consultation paper on 'the Terms and Conditions of Network Authorisations to be Granted Under the Telecommunications Act, 2023' has been placed on the TRAI's website (www.trai.gov.in) for seeking comments/ counter comments from stakeholders," it said. Stakeholders have been asked to submit written comments and counter

Starlink vs Jio: Trai extends satellite spectrum pricing debate deadline

Major satellite players like Musk's Starlink and Jeff Bezos-owned Amazon Kuiper are advocating for lower spectrum prices in India

Telcos revenue may cross Rs 5 trn in next 2 yrs, says DoT official

Telecom sector revenue may cross Rs 5 lakh crore in the next two years in line with the present growth trend fuelled by ease of doing business measures introduced by the government in the last 2-3 years, a senior Department of Telecom official said on Friday. The DoT's apex decision-making body Digital Communication Commission Member Manish Sinha mooted the idea of relooking at current practices of spectrum allocation and working on new methodologies like dynamic spectrum allocation, and for shorter duration to enhance spectrum usage efficiency and derive its economic value. "I can see that in the last 2 to 3 years, there has been much ease of business, and that reflects in the kind of revenues that the telecom sector is generating now. I hope it continues to grow like that in the next two years, it won't be surprising if we break the barrier of Rs 5 lakh crore in terms of gross revenue from this sector," Sinha said. According to a report by sector regulator Trai, telecom service ..

Trai pushes for OTT app regulation: Why WhatsApp and Telegram are in focus

Trai chief Anil Lahoti called for regulators across the globe to strike a balance between fostering innovation and maintaining a fair marketplace, given the cross-border nature of OTT services

Will consider all stakeholders views on satellite spectrum: Trai chief

Regulator indicates consultation paper on satellite communication won't be retracted

PHD Chambers seeks revision of Trai satcom paper for level playing field

After Reliance Jio, the industry body PHD Chamber of Commerce has also demanded revision of telecom regulator Trai's consultation paper on rules for satellite spectrum allocation, alleging that it misses questions around the level playing field between Satcom and terrestrial networks. PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry Executive Director Ranjeet Mehta, in a letter to Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) Chairman AK Lahoti, said that not addressing the issue of a level playing field between terrestrial and satellite-based communication service violates Article 14 of the Constitution. "The absence of questions addressing the issue of a level playing field in the consultation paper prevents many stakeholders from considering these concerns and providing crucial inputs to Trai. "Moreover, not addressing the concerns to ensure a level playing field between satellite and terrestrial access services during the consultation process may violate Article 14 of the Indian Constitution

Trai seeks help from RBI, sectoral regulators to push via anti-spam process

The new Digital Consent Acquisition process allows consumers to consent to receive commercial texts, calls

Trai's whitelisting mandate comes into effect with minimal disruption

Many entities refrained from sending messages where URLs were not whitelisted, as these would have been blocked by telecom operators

Trai relaxes URL whitelisting mandate for SMS to minimise disruptions

Trai reassured banks that only the static parts of URLs in SMS need whitelisting to avoid disruption fears

Trai seeks views on spectrum allocation process, satcom services pricing

Telecom regulator Trai on Friday started a consultation process to explore methodology and price for assigning spectrum to satellite companies to provide calling, messaging, broadband and other services in the country. The decision on spectrum price and allocation methodology will pave the way for satellite-based broadband services from companies like Elon Musk-owned SpaceX, Bharti Group-backed OneWeb, and Jio Satellite Communications across India. While the government, under the Telecommunications Act 2023, has decided to allocate spectrum for most of the satellite services without auction through the administrative process, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai), in the consultation process, has invited views on alternate ways of assigning radio waves to the satellite companies. "Whether there are any other suggestions related to the assignment of spectrum for NGSO-based Fixed Satellite Services for providing data communication and Internet services...GSO/ NGSO based ..

Just 3,000 nods: Trai's whitelisting deadline may be pushed by 30 days

At present, the telcos get the headers and the templates from the businesses. However, now they will also require the content to be submitted

Telcos can't opt out of new service authorisation regime: Trai chairman

Consultation paper on satellite spectrum to be launched in next few days, Chairman says

Trai to discuss OTT apps regulation; expedite Satcom framework: Chairman

Telecom regulator Trai will expedite the process for satellite spectrum pricing before taking up the issue of regulation for over-the-top apps like WhatsApp, Telegram, and Google Meet, Trai chairman said on Wednesday. A consultation paper on pricing for Satellite Spectrum will issued in the next few days, Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) Chairman RC Lahoti said. "OTT was not part of this paper (Service Authorisation Framework under Telecommunications Act 2023). It is being discussed separately. Right now, we have to take up spectrum pricing on a priority basis," Lahoti said. He said that Trai will explore if OTT apps need to be regulated under the Telecommunications Act 2023. Telecom operators have expressed concern over Trai's recent recommendation on a new regime that proposes to allow the provisioning of telecom service using single authorisation instead of a license, which was the norm under the old regime. Lahoti said Trai has only recommended the framework that

Telcom firms, Scindia discuss AGR, OTP apps exclusion from licensing rules

Telecom operators in a meeting with Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia expressed concerns over regulator Trai excluding messaging and calling apps like WhatsApp and Telegram in its recommendation on new licensing rules, sources aware of the development said. Operators also discussed issues concerning adjusted gross revenue payments, they added. The meeting was attended by Reliance Jio Chairman Akash Ambani, Vodafone Idea CEO Akshaya Moondra, Bharti Airtel MD and CEO Gopal Vittal and BSNL Chairman and Managing Director Robert J Ravi. "All telecom operators expressed concern over the exclusion of over-the-top apps by Trai in its recommendation on Service Authorisation. Vodafone Idea and Bharti Airtel raised the issue of adjusted gross revenue," a source said. Telecom operators have been demanding for a long time to bring calling and messaging apps, called as OTTs, under the ambit of telecom licences as they provide calling and messaging services like any telecom operator. The Telec

Trai excludes OTTs like WhatsApp, Telegram from licensing regime overhaul

Three broad categories of telecommunication service authorisations proposed in move to streamline rules

Trai, DoT jointly disconnect over 10 million mobile phone connection

Telecom regulator Trai and the Department of Telecom have jointly disconnected over 1 crore mobile connections to check pesky callers and fraudsters, according to an official statement. The Department of Telecom has blocked 2.27 lakh mobile handsets for their involvement in cybercrime and financial fraud. "Till date, more than 1 crore fraudulent mobile connections have been disconnected with the help of Sancharsaathi. Further, 2.27 lakh mobile handsets have been blocked for involvement in cybercrime /financial frauds," the statement said. To curb the menace of spam calls, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) has directed telecom operators to disconnect and blacklist entities, using bulk connections for spam calls, including robocalls and pre-recorded calls. "In the last fortnight, over 3.5 lakh such numbers have been disconnected and 50 entities have been blacklisted. In addition, around 3.5 Lakh unused and unverified SMS headers and 12 Lakh content templates are blocke

Trai urges DoT to encash Rs 115 cr from telcos for spam-related violations

The telecom regulator maintains that telcos are responsible for controlling unsolicited commercial communications under the Telecom Commercial Communications Customer Preference Regulations