TELECOM REGULATOR
Telecom tariffs are decided by market dynamics, govt clarifies
Government stated it does not interfere with telecom rates, which are determined by market forces. Tariff changes are monitored by Trai. India offers some of the lowest mobile service costs globally.
Government notifies additional provisions in Telecom Act 2023
The government has notified new sections of the Telecommunications Act focusing on spectrum utilization and regulatory appointments. The Act aims to enhance efficiency through methods like sharing and trading of spectrum.
Airtel, Jio help telecom industry record 3.87% sequential growth in AGR in last quarter of FY24 to Rs 70,462 cr
The telecom industry saw a 3.87% sequential growth in adjusted gross revenue in the last quarter of FY24, driven by Airtel and Reliance Jio. Vodafone Idea and BSNL faced declines in mobile services AGR. Private telecom operators raised headline rates, leading to increased revenue. The Department of Telecommunications reported higher licence fee and spectrum usage charge collections. Broadband subscribers increased to 924.07 million, with wireless Arpu at Rs 153.54. Overall sectoral minutes of consumption and telephone subscribers also showed growth.
Telecom tariff hike: Govt, regulator won't intervene in matter
The government and the telecom regulator do not plan to intervene in telecom companies' decisions to raise prices, stating that tariffs in India remain among the lowest globally. Authorities, however, want the companies to enhance the quality of services.
Buoyed by ₹18,000 crore fund-raise, Vi beefs up 4G coverage, network in UP, Uttarakhand
The company plans to add a 900 MHz band layer, which will significantly enhance indoor network experience for its customers in the two circles. “The deployment of L900 coverage will be beneficial in urban areas with dense building infrastructure, as well as suburban and rural areas where signal penetration is a challenge,” Vi said in a statement Thursday.
Jio outpaces Airtel in 4G/5G user additions during April
Active, or visitor location register (VLR) data put out every month by Trai indicates the number of mobile users regularly using a mobile network. As a result, Jio’s active user base jumped to 433.42 million users, while Airtel and Vodafone Idea’s active user base declined to 383.32 million and 192.64 million users respectively.
Trai meets BFSI regulators, companies to use 160 series for voice calls
The telecom regulator has collaborated with financial sector regulators and top banks to discuss the efficient use and implementation of the newly allocated 160-series numbering series for transactional and service calls. This series aims to reduce pesky calls and prevent fraud by providing easy identification of the calling entity. Entities regulated by RBI, SEBI, IRDAI, and PFRDA will use the 160-series, with central and state government entities using 1600ABCXXX and financial entities using 1601ABCXXX. Additionally, measures like migrating the 140 series to the DLT platform and implementing digital consent scrubbing are expected to control spam calls from 10-digit numbers.
Trai reviewing norms for inactive landline and mobile connections, seeks feedback
The telecom regulator is seeking input on defining inactive landline and mobile connections as part of a discussion paper for a revised national numbering plan. It also seeks industry suggestions on reusing numbering resources from inactive connections.
Trai asks mobile users to report fraudulent calls/ SMSes/ WhatsApp messages to DoT
The telecom regulator in India has urged mobile users to report fraudulent calls, text messages, and WhatsApps from third-party agencies claiming to be the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) and threatening disconnections. The regulator stated that Trai does not initiate communications regarding mobile number disconnection and has not authorized any third-party agency to contact customers for such purposes.
Top technology, aviation companies may dial DoT for service call numbers
As more businesses in sectors such as ride-hailing, food-tech, quick grocery commerce, as well as social media adopt voice calls as an option to authenticate users, it makes sense for them to differentiate themselves from fraud numbers. The department of telecommunications (DoT) on Tuesday allocated 160 numbering series for transactional and service calls made by businesses for commercial purposes. This was done mainly to protect mobile phone users from the surging nuisance of pesky calls and messages, which also lead to financial fr
Airtel's $100b market capitalisation reflects a stable economy under a solid leader: Sunil Mittal
Sunil Bharti Mittal, Chairman of Bharti Enterprises, emphasized that Airtel's resurgence post the challenges posed by Reliance Jio's entry and the AGR ruling showcased India's stable economy and supportive policies under strong leadership. Reflecting on Airtel's path to the $100-billion milestone, Mittal highlighted the company's resilience amidst industry disruptions. He noted that Airtel's achievement as the first-generation Indian company to reach this milestone was significant, especially considering the competitive landscape.
Meeting with PM Modi proved to be turning point for Bharti Airtel: Sunil Mittal
In September 2018, PM Narendra Modi's meeting with Sunil Bharti Mittal marked a turning point for Bharti Airtel amidst challenges from Reliance Jio. Mittal, GSMA chairman, highlighted the impact of Jio's free services and regulatory decisions on Airtel to PM Modi, seeking intervention.
Telecom infrastructure sharing may spur gear sharing too, experts say
The current scenario could change with Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) recommending creating a separate category under the unified license for Digital Connectivity Infrastructure Provider (DCIP) authorisation. "...the proposed DCIP authorisation holder may create both active and passive digital connectivity infrastructure and share it with other TSPs and has to pay no license fee to the government," Trai said in its recommendations last month.
Top regulators, govt departments join forces to counter pesky calls, online fraud
Regulators such as RBI, SEBI, Trai, along with government departments like the Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, and DoT, convened on May 21 to address the issue of pesky communications and online financial fraud. Discussions centered on tightening KYC rules, improving information sharing among stakeholders, and enhancing consent mechanisms. Trai's joint committee of regulators is spearheading collaborative efforts to tackle digital regulatory implications.
Telcos push for compliance parity with OTTs on pesky calls & SMSes
"The industry has developed various modules over the DLT framework, which have been reasonably successful, considering the noticeable decline in the volume of unsolicited commercial communications (UCC) originating from SMS over the last couple of years. But UCC from voice calls is still an issue that the regulator and operators are working together to address," S P Kochhar, director general, Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), said Tuesday.
COAI hopes Consumer Affairs Ministry's draft guidelines will help tackle pesky calls
The Consumer Affairs Ministry's draft guidelines, supported by COAI, aim to tackle unregistered telemarketers. Telecom Regulatory Authority of India introduced TCCCPR with DLT to curb pesky communications and address voice call issues.
Telcos, tech players join forces to counter pesky calls/SMS
Telecom operators in India leverage blockchain-based DLT to combat pesky calls, SMS phishing, and protect users. Collaboration with COAI, Trai, and regulators to implement consent frameworks and draft consumer protection guidelines.
Trai to shortly release views on regulating communication apps
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) is set to provide recommendations on the possible regulation of over-the-top (OTT) communication apps such as WhatsApp, Telegram, and Signal. The consultation process initiated in July last year continues, with stakeholders having provided their comments.
Soon-to-be unfair trade practice, telemarketing & fraudulent calls to incur criminal liability
The Department of Consumer Affairs is working to bring out relevant guidelines in a couple of months. These will put accountability on telemarketers and their principal entities — such as banks, real estate companies or any other consumer-facing business — while sending promotional or transactional messages or making such calls for customer conversion.
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