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TRAI to Release Recommendations on Internet Telephony by February

by Rajdeep
written by Rajdeep

TRAI to Release Recommendations on Internet Telephony by February

Telecom regulator TRAI plans to finalise recommendations on the Internet telephony framework by February – a move that may lead to cheaper phone calls and the pave way for making calls from mobile applications like WhatsApp and Skype.

“Provision of Internet telephony has been in telecom licence, but it has not expanded in country. Today, we discussed issues that are holding on to its expansion,” TRAI Chairman RS Sharma told reporters in New Delhi on the sidelines of Open House Discussion on Internet telephony.

“We expect to finalise the recommendations on this paper by February,” he added.

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India started consultation on the subject in June. At present, Internet service providers (ISPs) can provide Internet telephony from PC to PC. With the advancement in technology, mobile phones are facilitating voice calling through apps like WhatsApp and Skype.

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) said Internet telephony has now become similar to conventional telephony and these providers compete directly with the existing technology used for making phone calls via landlines or mobile phones.

The consultation followed dispute between private telecom operators and state-run BSNL, which announced the launch of a new service that enables its customers to make local and STD calls from their landline phones in India by using a mobile application when they are abroad.

Voice over IP (VoIP) uses network resources much more efficiently than conventional telephone service, reducing the costs of providing a call (albeit with the loss of some call quality and service features, creating opportunities for regulatory arbitrage that enable Telecom Service Providers and consumers to reduce or avoid call charges, TRAI said.

Cellular industry body COAI has alleged that BSNL’s new service for making calls is in violation of licence norms.

In the paper, TRAI has said that Internet telephony which provides low cost calling service may be the future but still, some existing operators may be reluctant to introduce VoIP because they already offer voice services over the PSTN (landline)/PLMN (mobile network).

Perhaps understandably, they do not wish to cannibalise their higher margin services offerings, it said.

[Source:- gadgets.ndtv]

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Internet

TRAI to Release Public Wi-Fi Network Recommendations Within a Month

by Rajdeep
written by Rajdeep

TRAI to Release Public Wi-Fi Network Recommendations Within a Month

Terming the availability and affordability of broadband as a “prerequisite” for growth of digital transactions, regulator TRAI Monday said it will finalise in 20-25 days its views on ‘public Wi-Fi networks’.

Public Wi-Fi networks would offer data connectivity at just 10 percent of the prevailing data rates.

“We will give our recommendations in 20-25 days. The issue of Wi-Fi proliferation is an important one. The basic objective of Digital India is to encourage digital transactions of all kinds … it is therefore important for people to have broadband availability and affordability,” TRAI Chairman R S Sharma said on sidelines of an open house on ‘Proliferation of Broadband through Public Wi-Fi Networks’.

He said that broadband access needs to be ubiquitous, reliable and robust.

“These characteristics can be delivered through Wi-Fi networks and therefore we are trying to think of ways to bring about seamless grid of Wi-Fi network,” Sharma said.

He said TRAI’s consultation paper does not deal with free Wi-Fi services, but rather costs that are just 10 percent of the prevailing costs.

“Free Wi-Fi would not be sustainable over a long time. The Wi-Fi networks we are talking about will not be free but they will be very affordable. Compared to the data costs right now, it will be just 10 percent…So, people will be able to take advantage of that,” he said.

In its consultation paper floated in July last year, TRAI had said that it is estimated that cost per MB in Wi-Fi Network could be less than 2 paise per MB while consumers on an average are paying around 23 paise per MB for the data usage in the cellular network like 2G, 3G and 4G.

The broadband crunch with regard to wired infrastructure will also be addressed through proliferation of community Wi-Fi hotspots.

“It is not just in tune with the wave of digitisation but also a requirement and a necessity, as our country moves forward in the digital connectivity. It is an absolute pre-requisite for Digital India,” he said.

When asked by when will the public Wi-Fi hotspots become a reality in India, Sharma said the regulator’s mandate is to provide recommendations and framework.

“Implementation is not our mandate. So, we will create such conditions or try to give recommendations that will ensure that these proliferate,” he added.

Digital payment channels have seen massive uptake and rise in transactions after demonetisation was announced on November 8.

According to the government data, UPI transactions – which allow users to transfer funds from one bank account to another using a smartphone – grew 1,342 percent, from 3,721 such transactions a day on November 8 to 53,648 on December 25. In value terms, it grew 647 percent, from Rs 1.93 crores a day to Rs 14 crores, during the same period.

On December 30 last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched an indigenous digital payments app BHIM for fast and secure cashless transactions using mobiles. BHIM is a payment platform designed to make UPI and USSD payment modes simpler and usable across feature phones and smartphones.

[Source:- gadgets.ndtv]

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Internet

TRAI Explores Framework for Wide Deployment of Public Wi-Fi

by Rajdeep
written by Rajdeep

TRAI Explores Framework for Wide Deployment of Public Wi-Fi

Telecom regulator TRAI has sought views on a model for deployment of public Wi-Fi hotspots, including reselling of service by venue owners, that can be scaled up for wider coverage and affordable broadband services.

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India said its consultation paper on model for nation-wide interoperable and scalable public Wi-Fi networks is “to explore the roles of different stakeholders in the Public Wi-Fi network value chain and build an ecosystem for promoting scalable and sustainable partnerships for large scale nation wide deployment.”

The regulator said that it is also exploring monetisation and sustainable business models for public Wi-Fi networks through the consultation process.

The regulator has identified lack of spectrum in the backend to connect Wi-Fi hotspots, stagnated growth of landline connections, authentication of Wi-Fi user, payment mechanism, infrastructure woes like availability of power among issues hindering proliferation of public Wi-Fi.

TRAI has proposed that various entities can be part of public Wi-Fi include malls, restaurant owners, mobile wallet firms, communities to reduce cost of operations and contribute through their expertise.
Among comments on various issues for public Wi-Fi growth, TRAI has sought view on “Whether reselling of bandwidth should be allowed to venue owners such as shop keepers through Wi-Fi at premise? In such a scenario please suggest the mechanism for security compliance.”

Last date for submitting comments on the paper is November 25.

[Source:- gadgets.ndtv]

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Tech Update

Trai asks for retraction and apology over COAI’s wrong remarks

by Rajdeep
written by Rajdeep

 

Taking strong exception to remarks byCellular Operators’ Association of India (COAI) director general Rajan Mathews, following an industry meeting on interconnection issue, the telecom watchdog has sought both a retraction and an apology.

“In order to set the record straight, the director general, COAI may be directed to retract his false statement made in the media and issue apologies for the same,” the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) said in a letter to the association chairman Gopal Vittal.

The sectoral regulator — which sternly told the telecom players to resolve the matter amicably — said no association was invited for the meeting held on September 9, and that this position clarified to Mathews as well.

“In view of the above, the statement of director general, COAI, in electronic media alleging that he was not allowed by TRAI to participate in the said meeting at the behest of Reliance Jio is to say the least patently wrong, mischievous and perhaps made with a malafide intention.

What the regulator took exception to was a comment by Mathews pertaining to Friday’s meeting. “COAI has been kept out of the TRAI meeting at the insistence of Reliance Jio and TRAI acquiesced to their demand in an unprecedented manner.”

Representatives of the service providers, including Bharti Airtel, Reliance Jio,Vodafone India and Idea Cellular, met with the watchdog to discuss the issue of network interconnection among players.

After the meeting, Reliance Jio Infocomm board member Mahendra Nahata told reporters: “This is a fight of justice for the Indian customer. This is not about Jio customer, Idea customer, Vodafone customer or Airtel customer.”

[Source:- Indiatimes]
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Internet

Trai to Release Discussion Paper on Net Neutrality by Month-End

by Rajdeep
written by Rajdeep

Trai to Release Discussion Paper on Net Neutrality by Month-End

Telecom regulator Trai Wednesday said it will bring out a consultation paper on Net Neutrality, and separately also firm-up its views on the issue of Free Data by the end of the month.

“For net neutrality, the pre-consultation has happened and we are now in the process of firming-up the final consultation paper, hopefully by the end of this month,” Trai Chairman, R S Sharma said on the sidelines of a conference.

He further said the regulator will take a view on Free Data in a similar timeframe. “By month-end, we will be able to take a call… I can’t say what will be the outcome of that.

Every consultation paper does not have to result into regulation or tariff order but whatever the conclusion, we will be able to make it, by the month-end,” he said.

The two issues, Free Data and Net Neutrality, will be handled separately. “These two will be different, certainly. Because in the Free Data paper, we have said that whatever architecture is brought out that should respect the principles of Net Neutrality,” he said.

In Free Data, the regulator is exploring models to give consumers free Internet service within the Net Neutrality framework, after barring platforms like Facebook’s Free Basics and Airtel Zero under its differential pricing rule.

It sought public views on whether there is a need to have TSP-agnostic platform to provide free data or suitable reimbursement to users, without violating the principles of its differential pricing for data rules.

In May this year, Trai, through a pre-consultation round, sought public views on aspects of Net Neutrality that need be considered for a discussion framework.

There has been a conflict between telecom operators, Internet companies and consumers interest on the issue of net neutrality.

While all the three major stakeholders – telecom operators, Internet companies and consumers – favour net neutrality, they define it differently from their standpoint.

The debate on net neutrality picked up in India when telecom operator Bharti Airtel in December 2014decided to charge extra for making Internet calls. But, the company rolled back its plan after public protest.

It then launched Airtel Zero platform which provided fee access to websites under it, while websites were required pay for being on it.

Later, Facebook also came up with a zero rating platform ‘Free Basics’ which provided free access to some websites available on its platform for Reliance Communications customers in India. Both these platforms were seen as violation to net neutrality and later Trai issued a regulation which barred zero rating platform.

[Source:- gadgets.ndtv]

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Internet

Trai to decide on rules for Internet calling, messaging firms soon

by Loknath Das
written by Loknath Das

telecom-agencies

BARCELONA: Telecom regulator Trai will release its recommendations on the regulatory framework for over-the-top (OTT) services in couple of months, its chairman R S Sharma said Tuesday.

“We already have a paper on OTT (over-the-top). We will come out with appropriate recommendations and regulations in near future. Couple of months from now,” Sharma told PTI at the Mobile World Congress 2019 here.

The telecom sector at MWC has been displaying technology and sharing their plans around 5G services. The business of 5G will be dominated by data-related business which is expected to blur differences between services provided by Internet companies and telecom service providers.

The sector has been talking about same set of rules for companies providing similar services.

Last week, global industry body GSM Association Director General Mats Granryd said globally telecom companies should be regulated at par with Internet firms as they are planning to move beyond providing just connectivity to adopt data-centric business model with “intelligent connectivity” with 5G coming in.

He said India is the only country that has announced to gradually end mobile call termination rates — a move that will end price arbitrage between online players providing calling and messaging service and telecom operators.

Talking about evolution of new technologies and impact on regulatory jurisdictions, Sharma said, “Regulatory systems will continue to develop as technology develops. Our approach is regulator should not become hindrance.”

Besides this, Sharma said all telecom operators will have to put in place blockchain based system to curb pesky call and messaging menace from March 1 and no extension will be granted to them.

Indian enterprise messaging firm Tanla Solutions announced here that it has installed first system to stop pesky calls and messaging system as per Trai rule on Vodafone Idea network that has gone live from Tuesday onwards.

“This initiative would perhaps be the largest use case for Blockchain in the world with potential transactional volumes of above 10 billion per month. We are confident that it will empower the billion plus mobile users,” Uday Reddy, CMD, Tanla Solutions said.

[“source=economictimes.indiatimes.”]

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Internet

Internet Subscribers in India Drop Marginally in Q3: TRAI

by Loknath Das
written by Loknath Das

Internet Subscribers in India Drop Marginally in Q3: TRAI

HIGHLIGHTS

  • TRAI has revealed the data for July-September 2017 period
  • Total number of subscribers stood at 429.3 million
  • Broadband Internet subscribers grew 8 percent

The total number of Internet subscribers in India declined from 431.21 million at the end of June 2017 to 429.23 million at the end of September 2017, registering a quarterly degrowth of (-)0.46 percent, data revealed by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) said on Thursday.

“Out of 429.23 million, wired Internet subscribers are 21.35 million and wireless Internet subscribers are 407.88 million,” the statement issued by TRAI said.

The TRAI has revealed the data for July-September 2017 period.

The Internet subscriber base is comprised of broadband Internet subscriber base of 324.89 million and narrowband Internet subscriber base of 104.34 million.

The broadband Internet subscriber base grew by 8 percent from 300.84 million at the end of June to 324.89 million at the end of September. On the other hand, the narrowband Internet subscriber base declined by 19.97 percent from 130.38 million at the end of June to 104.34 million at the end of September.

The number of telephone subscribers in India increased from 1,210.84 million at the end of June 17 to 1,206.71 million at the end of September 17, registering a degrowth of (-)0.34 percent over the previous quarter.

“However, this reflects year-on-year positive growth of 12.33 percent over the same quarter of last year,” the release said.

[“Source-gadgets.ndtv”]

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