The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has floated a consultation paper on “Tariff related issues to SMS and Cell Broadcast alerts disseminated through Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) platform during disasters and non-disasters”.
Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has requested TRAI to provide tariff for SMS and cell broadcast alerts and messages to be disseminated by telecommunications service providers (TSP) through CAP platform during disasters and non-disasters.
DoT presently allows SMS and cell broadcast free of cost only for a definite period and for events where a special request for free of cost messages comes from specific nodal authorities. However, there are occasions when the government would like to send alert messages to the public forewarning of a possible disaster or occasions where public has to be informed of special events such as holding of relief, vaccine, medical camps or specific law and order related situations etc.
The purpose of this consultation paper is to seek stakeholders’ views on the tariff for SMS or cell broadcast disseminated by TSPs through CAP platform during disasters and non-disasters. It also aims to understand the technical aspects that might have an impact on the costing of the service.
TRAI has invited written comments on the consultation paper latest by December 1, 2021. Further, counter-comments can be submitted by December 15, 2021.
