The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has released a consultation paper on ‘the Terms and Conditions of Network Authorisations to be Granted Under the Telecommunications Act, 2023’, on October 22, 2024.

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT), through a letter dated July 26, 2024, informed TRAI that the Telecommunications Act, 2023 has been published in the official gazette of India; section 3(1)(b) of the Act provides for obtaining an authorisation by any person intending to establish, operate, maintain or expand telecommunication network, subject to such terms and conditions, including fees or charges, as may be prescribed. Through the said letter dated July 26, 2024, DoT, under section 11(1)(a) of the TRAI Act 1997, requested TRAI to provide its recommendations on terms and conditions, including fees or charges, for authorisation to establish, operate, maintain or expand telecommunication network as per the provisions of the Telecommunications Act, 2023.

Subsequently, through another letter dated October 17, DoT requested TRAI to consider an authorisation for satellite communication network under section 3(1)(b) of the Telecommunications Act, 2023.

TRAI has sought stakeholder recommendations on various issues raised in the consultation paper. Some of the key issues include:

  • Whether there is a need to merge the scopes of the extant Infrastructure Provider-I (IP-I) and Digital Connectivity Infrastructure Provider (DCIP) authorisation, into a single authorisation under Section 3(1)(b) of the Telecommunications Act, 2023?
  • Which telecommunication equipment/elements should be included in the ambit of ‘in-building solution’ (IBS)? Whether there is a need to introduce a new authorisation under Section 3(1)(b) of the Telecommunications Act, 2023 for establishing, operating, maintaining or expanding in-building solution (IBS) by any property manager within the limits of a single building, compound or estate controlled, owned, or managed by it?
  • Whether there is a need to make any changes in the eligibility conditions, area of operation, validity period of authorisation, scope, and terms and conditions (general, technical, operational, security etc.) of the content delivery network (CDN) authorisation?
  • What should be the eligibility conditions, area of operation, validity period of authorisation, scope, and terms and conditions (general, technical, operational, security etc.) of the authorisation for Mobile Number Portability Service under Section 3(1)(b) of the Telecommunications Act, 2023?

In this regard, a consultation paper has been released on the TRAI’s website for seeking comments and counter comments from stakeholders. Written comments and counter comments on the issues raised in the consultation paper are invited from stakeholders by November 12, 2024 and November 19, 2024, respectively.