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The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) will initiate more in-depth consultations on general principles related to spectrum — including its valuation methodology, trading, sharing and leasing — for the next calendar year.
The sector regulator on Wednesday met top executives of the operators who wanted various topics to be discussed over the next calendar year, RS Sharma, Chairman, TRAI, told reporters after the meeting.
Consultation paper
“We have received suggestions on spectrum-related issues... policy relating to spectrum auctions, reserve-price valuation methodology, spectrum leasing, surrendering, trading...all these things will be deliberated upon. We will bring a consultation paper which will deal with all spectrum-related issues,” he said.
Sharma also clarified that the upcoming deliberations will not have any bearing on the past recommendations of TRAI on the auction of spectrum. Telcos including Vodafone-Idea, Bharti Airtel, Reliance Jio, BSNL and MTNL met Sharma to discuss the issues to be prioritised for 2019.
Other issues that the regulator has taken up include fiberisation, redesigning of the Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF) and designing of broadband readiness index for States — a concept enshrined in the National Digital Communications Policy — so that they can also participate in the projects.
“The deliberations assume significance because now we have a new Digital Communications Policy in place....there are lot of statements in the policy which will require deliberations. We wanted to consult with the service providers to figure out their view point on priority areas,” he said.
Being ‘transparent’
Sharma said the industry also flagged issues such as high levies and GST refunds in addition to demanding cut in licence fee and spectrum charges. Meanwhile, the regulator came down heavily on operators for sending text messages to consumers on mandatory balance and insisting on a minimum recharge of ₹35 a month. Asking the operators to be transparent, it said it is examining the issue.
“Tariff and plans are under forbearance and we don’t generally intervene. But, if there is sufficient money in the account and despite that people are being told that the services will be disconnected, it is not correct,” Sharma said.
Further directive
The directive in this regard has gone out to operators, and service providers have been asked to “duly inform subscribers in a clear and transparent manner the date on which the current validity of the existing plan would expire and the manner in which the subscriber can opt for the available plans, including the minimum recharge plan using the subscriber’s available pre-paid account balance or otherwise.”
TRAI has also asked operators to send this information to subscribers through SMS immediately and ‘not later than 72 hours’. “Till such time, services of such customers who have balance in pre-paid accounts equal to the minimum recharge amount should not be discontinued,” it said.
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