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Trai Issues Pre-Consultation Paper on Net Neutrality

31May By Press Trust of IndiaNo Comments

INDIA

Trai Issues Pre-Consultation Paper on Net Neutrality

Telecom regulator Trai today issued pre-consultation paper on net neutrality, a topic that had kicked up dust earlier this year over platforms like Facebooks Free Basics and Airtel Zero as well as attempts to charge certain Internet services, including calls. Seeking to put in place an overall framework for Internet usage in the country, Telecom Regulatory Authority of India said: "This pre-consultation paper is an attempt to identify the relevant issues in these areas, which will help Trai in formulating its views on the way forward for policy or regulatory intervention." 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 compani...

29May By AnkitaNo Comments

News

A New Technology to Mask Call Drops

Trying to deflect heat over poor service quality, mobile operators are taking refuge in a new technology to "mask" call drops that show a call as remaining connected even when the network connection is lost and the caller is unable to hear voice from the other side. Earlier, the call used to get automatically disconnected in case of the user moving to a poor network area, making it a dropped call under the current regulatory framework. The new technology ensures the call remains artificially connected until the caller or receiver decides to terminate it and the user is billed for the entire duration despite not being able to talk for full or part of the call duration. "Telecom operators are using Radio-Link Technology (RLT) which is helping them mask call drops while the consumer is...

Cost of New Mobile Connection Could be Zero Using Aadhaar eKYC

10Apr By AdityaNo Comments

News

Cost of New Mobile Connection Could be Zero Using Aadhaar eKYC

Trai Chairman R S Sharma Friday said cost of activation of a new mobile connection can virtually come down to zero if electronic KYC of Aadhaar is implemented as authentication will be done digitally. He said transaction costs are reduced substantially when Aadhaar is used as an authentication tool. "If you are taking a mobile connection, currently the cost of activation of a mobile customer is Rs 150 because you have to fill a customer acquisition form (CAF), you have to give paper documents... if you use digital identity authentication, you can fill the customer form, digitally sign it and get your electronic KYC. So, essentially the cost is equal to zero," Sharma said at the annual growth Net summit in New Delhi. Sharma has made recommendations to the Department of Tele...

‘112’ To Soon Become Single Number For All Emergency Services

29Mar By Press Trust of IndiaNo Comments

News

‘112’ To Soon Become Single Number For All Emergency Services

NEW DELHI: People will soon have to dial just a single-number '112' for help during emergency situations such as availing services of police, ambulance and the fire department. The proposal to have a single number for various emergency services, approved by the inter-ministerial panel Telecom Commission, would be similar to the '911' all-in-one emergency service in the US. All existing emergency numbers will be phased out within a year of rolling out 112, depending upon the awareness about this new facility. "Telecom Commission has accepted Trai's recommendation on single emergency number 112. It will now be drafted by the Department of Telecom and will require Telecom Minister's (Ravi Shankar Prasad) approval. It will be rolled out within months rather than a year," an official s...

RIP Facebook Free Basics, TRAI Supports Net Neutrality

8Feb By PriyankaNo Comments

News

RIP Facebook Free Basics, TRAI Supports Net Neutrality

Indian Entrepreneurs will be too happy this time. Reason? Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), has finally put to rest the differential pricing debate for at least two years. TRAI on Monday said that no company or offer to charge discriminatory tariff for data on basis of content effective immediately. India’s telecom regulator TRAI says no company to offer/charge discriminatory tariffs for data on basis of content - TV— Reuters India (@ReutersIndia) February 8, 2016 //platform.twitter.com/widgets.js The regulator, which warned the operators that they cannot enter into any arrangement based on discriminatory pricing, also said that financial disincentives of Rs. 50,000-50 Lakh will be charged If TRAI regulations were violated. TRAI Releases its Regulations on &q...

Trai Set to Reject Differential Pricing For Data, Free Basics and Airtel Zero Services

30Jan By NitishNo Comments

News

Trai Set to Reject Differential Pricing For Data, Free Basics and Airtel Zero Services

A big move taken by Trai (Telecom Regulator of India) is ready to reject differential pricing for data services. This move will end the debate on Facebook's Free Basics and Airtel Zero Services. Specially as a huge setback for Facebook, which has spend 300 crores on free basics support Advertisement. The order is also expected to bar free or subsidised data packages that offer access to only a select services, such as Facebook, Twitter or WhatsApp messenger. "These are discriminatory and are against the concept of digital democracy. We will not allow them," a source said to TOI.(Source)

Money vs Volunteer: Facebook Loosing battle against Net Neutrality, 300 Crores Ads will Go in Vain

9Jan By PriyankaNo Comments

News

Money vs Volunteer: Facebook Loosing battle against Net Neutrality, 300 Crores Ads will Go in Vain

Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) discards over 14 lakh comments on the differential pricing policy through Facebook's Free Basics campaign. Slamming the campaign, the regulator body reached out to the supporters of Free Basics pointing towards the fact that the campaign supporters does not answer questions raised by TRAI in the consultation paper. TRAI has invited more comments on the consultation paper on 'Differential Pricing for Data Services' extending the deadline for views to January 7. The paper seeks to determine whether the free data and zerorating plans of telcos are misleading and violate net neutrality rules. As per reports, TRAI has received 18.27 lakh responses so far, some of which are through direct texts while about 14 lakh comments are through F...

Facebook fights for free Internet in India, global test-case

1Jan By No Comments

News

Facebook fights for free Internet in India, global test-case

Reuters: India has become a battleground over the right to unrestricted Internet access, with local tech start-ups joining the front line against Facebook Inc founder Mark Zuckerberg and his plan to roll out free Internet to the country's masses. The Indian government has ordered Facebook's Free Basics plan to be put on hold while it decides what to do. The program, launched in around three dozen developing countries, offers pared-down web services on mobile phones, along with access to Facebook's own social network and messaging services, without charge. But critics say the program, launched 10 months ago in India in collaboration with operator Reliance Communications, violates principles of net neutrality, the concept that all websites on the internet are treated equally. It wou...