TRAI floats consultation paper on terms, conditions of network authorisations under Telecom Act

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) connected Tuesday floated a treatment insubstantial connected the presumption and conditions of web authorisations to beryllium granted nether the Telecom Act, 2023.

DoT had approached TRAI, done a missive dated July 26, 2024, asking it to supply recommendations connected presumption and conditions, including fees oregon charges, for authorisation to establish, operate, support oregon grow the telecommunication web arsenic per the provisions of the Telecommunications Act, 2023.

Subsequently, done different missive dated October 17, 2024, DoT requested TRAI to see an authorisation for a outer connection web nether the Telecommunications Act, 2023.
"In this regard, a consultation insubstantial connected 'the Terms and Conditions of Network Authorisations to beryllium Granted Under the Telecommunications Act, 2023' has been placed connected the TRAI's website (www.Trai.Gov.In) for seeking comments/ antagonistic comments from stakeholders," it said.

Stakeholders person been asked to taxable written comments and antagonistic comments connected the issues raised successful the consultation insubstantial by November 12, 2024 and November 19, 2024, respectively.

TRAI has asked whether determination is simply a request to merge the scopes of Infrastructure Provider-I (IP-I) and Digital Connectivity Infrastructure Provider (DCIP) authorisation into a azygous authorisation and if so, what should beryllium the eligibility conditions for the assistance of the merged authorisation, the scope of operation, validity play and presumption and conditions for the same.

In the consultation insubstantial that runs into 79 pages and raises 37 questions, TRAI has besides sought stakeholders' views connected which telecommunication equipment/ elements should beryllium included successful the ambit of 'in-building solution' (IBS).

"Whether determination is simply a request to present a caller authorisation under... Telecommunications Act, 2023 for establishing, operating, maintaining oregon expanding in-building solution (IBS) by immoderate spot manager wrong the limits of a azygous building, compound oregon property controlled, owned, oregon managed by it...If yes, what should beryllium the eligibility conditions, country of operation, validity play of authorisation, scope, and presumption & conditions (general, technical, operational, information etc.) of specified an authorisation," it has asked.

The regulator has asked if determination is simply a request to marque immoderate changes successful the eligibility conditions, country of operation, validity play of authorisation, scope, and presumption and norms of the Content Delivery Network (CDN) authorisation, arsenic recommended by TRAI successful November 2022, and if truthful what changes are desired successful presumption of eligibility conditions, country of operation, validity play of authorisation, scope, and different norms of CDN authorisation.

Notably, TRAI's consultation insubstantial besides poses questions astir Satellite Earth Station Gateway (SESG) authorisation.

"Whether determination is simply a request to marque immoderate changes successful the eligibility conditions, country of operation, validity play of authorisation, scope, and presumption & conditions (general, technical, operational, security) of the Satellite Earth Station Gateway (SESG) authorisation, arsenic recommended by TRAI connected November 29, 2022? If yes, what changes should beryllium made successful the eligibility conditions, country of operation, validity play of authorisation, scope, and presumption & conditions (general, technical, operational, information etc.) of the SESG authorisation," TRAI asked.

The regulator has besides asked if determination is simply a request to present a caller authorisation for establishing, operating, maintaining oregon expanding a outer connection network, which whitethorn beryllium utilized to supply a web arsenic a work to the entities authorised nether the Telecom Act, 2023.

TRAI has sought stakeholder sentiment connected whether determination is simply a request to present an authorisation for establishing, operating, maintaining oregon expanding crushed stations, which whitethorn beryllium utilized to supply crushed presumption arsenic a work (GSaaS), and, if so, the norms that should govern this.

Similarly, it has asked what should beryllium eligibility conditions, country of operation, validity play of authorisation, scope, and presumption and conditions of the authorisation for Mobile Number Portability Service nether the caller Telecom Act.

"What provisions should beryllium included successful the presumption and conditions of assorted web authorisations nether Section 3(1)(b) of the Telecommunications Act, 2023, considering the assorted sections, including Sections 4 to 9, 19 to 24, 32 to 42, 44, 45, 49, and 55 of the Telecommunications Act, 2023 and technological/ marketplace developments successful the telecommunication sector," according to the paper.

TRAI consultation insubstantial threw up questions connected presumption and conditions astir mergers, demergers, acquisitions, oregon different forms of restructuring of the entities holding web authorisations.

"What conditions should beryllium made applicable for the migration of existing web licenses, registrations etc. To the caller web authorisation authorities nether Section 3(1)(b) of the Telecommunications Act, 2023," TRAI consultation insubstantial said.