The Telecom Commissiontoday cleared proposals for allowing mobile services in flights and ships, use of InternetTelephonyand creation of post of Ombudsmanto address consumer grievances.
The proposals were approved by the commission chaired by telecom SecretaryAruna Sundararajan
"The in-flight connectivity (IFC) was approved by Telecom Commission(TC). Itwas decided to accept Trai's views except that the satellites used for providing services should be Department of Space-approved satellite and the gateway should be in India We would be operationalising this immediately," Sundararajan told reporters after the meeting.
Traihad recommended to allow Foreign Satellite Firmsin facilitating In-flight Mobile Communication Services
IFC provider will have to take licence from DoT by paying annual licence fee of Re 1 to provide the services.
The inter-ministerial panel, whose members include NITI Ayog CEO, Secretaryfrom Department of Revenue, Department Of Electronicsand IT, DIPP etc, approved Trai's views on InternetTelephonyservices.
"On Internettelephony, all recommendations of Traihave been accepted except the one to link calls to number. This will be fillip to voice Telephonyusing data networks," Sundararajan said.
The approval puts an end to ambiguity around calling on mobile and landline phones through mobile application. As per Trai's proposal, companies who hold valid telecom licence can provide app-based calling service even by using Wi-ficonnection.
The service provider will be required to comply with all the interception and monitoring related requirements and calls will be charged by Telecom Operatorsand all rules related to normal calls will be applicable on them, according to Trai's suggestion.
The views address the issues raised by private Telecom Operatorsover state-owned BSNL's mobile calling app which aimed at facilitating international calls at local rates.
However, the service was put on hold after private players alleged that BSNL was attempting to bypass call connection charges with the help of the app.
In a major relief to consumers, the panel also cleared proposal for an Ombudsmanunder Traias recommended by the regulator.
Besides present mechanism of registering complaint with telecom operators, an unsatisfied consumer can now approach consumer courts seeking relief for their grievances and thereafter also approach Ombudsmanfor redressal of their complaints.
"Ombudsmanwill be created by Trai Traihad said they do not have powers to create them. Therefore Itis now proposed to give them the powers to create an Ombudsman..This will bring in much better and more satisfactory grievance redressal system in the telecom sector," Sundararajan said.
Earlier, a ruling of the Supreme Courtin 2009 was interpreted that section 7B of the Indian Telegraph Act of 1885 barred a consumer from seeking remedy under the consumer Act. The complaint thus remained limited between the subscriber and the telecom company.
Sundararajan said approximately 1 crore complaints are made every quarter.
The regulator will be free to set up as many Ombudsmanas per requirement, she said.
"It( creating ombudsman) will require amendments in the TraiAct," Sundararajan said.
The TC also approved Trai's recommendation on 'Ease of doing business' in the telecom sector that aims at providing time bound clearances of various permits like licence, tower installation.
The regulator has recommended DoT to work a suitable matrix, linking the penalty to the severity of the incident and recurrence of the violation for imposition of financial penalties.
Telecom Operatorshave been asked to pay highest penalty of Rs 50 crore per circle even for minor violations.
The panel has accepted Trai's proposal that will push the optimal use of Public Wi-fiNetwork Under the proposal, public data offices will be set up like yesteryears PCOs. Broadbandconnections of shops, malls, public places will be streamlined to provide Wi-fiServicesto people in and around their premises. The move will enable entities to utilise their unused data by allowing public to consume Itand in return get credit in their Broadbandaccount.
"TC was firmly of the view that the Pdosshould not have cascading taxation effect. Pdoswill provide significant job creation opportunity. We have been working with Traito operationalise Itwith immediate effect," Sundararajan said.
The panel also approved cost of connecting Andaman And Nicobar Islandswith total outlay of Rs 1,224 crore which includes Rs 947 crore as capex funding and balance as opex funding.
"The opex of around Rs 276 crore is being borne by Ministry of Home Affairs," Sundararajan said.
The TC approved BharatNet project rollout in Assam, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, UP East, UP West, West Bengaland Sikkimby BSNL and in Himachal Pradeshby Power Grid Corporation, she said.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)