TRAI Recommendations on Ease of Doing Business in Telecom and Broadcasting

May 3, 2023

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has recently released its recommendations on ease of doing business in telecom and broadcasting sectors.

TRAI Recommendations for Infrastructure and Services in India’s Broadcast and Cable Sector

TRAI has suggested according infrastructure status to the “broadcast and cable sector and submarine cable laying and repair in Indian Territorial Water and Exclusive Economic Zones of India.” The regulator has also proposed that Cable Landing Stations in India be considered as “critical and essential services.”

Consultation Process and User-friendly Portal

The TRAI’s recommendations were made after a suo motu consultation, and it recommended that a user-friendly, transparent and responsive digital single-window system-based portal be established for end-to-end inter-departmental online processes. It has also recommended that each Ministry establish a standing Ease of Doing Business (EoDB) Committee to regularly review, simplify, and update existing processes and ensure ease of doing business as an on-going activity.

Spectrum Royalty Fee and Mobile App for Registration

TRAI has suggested that Wireless and Planning Commission charge the spectrum royalty fee for temporary live event uplinking on a pro-rata basis for the actual event days. In addition, TRAI has recommended that I&B Ministry create a mobile app for local cable operators to register. The GatiShakti Sanchar Portal or RoW portal should also incorporate all service providers, including LCOs, and the DoT should seek RoW approvals for LCOs while consulting with MIB.

Reducing Compliance Burden and Online Submarine Cable Network

To reduce the compliance burden on Internet Service Providers, the TRAI has recommended revision in the periodicity for submission of information by the ISPs on details of ISPNodes or Points of Presence (PoP) with their locations and number of subscribers. The TRAI has also recommended that the website blocking process should be incorporated on the single window portal. It further suggested that permissions of laying and operations of submarine cables network should be made online as a part of Saral Sanchar portal.

Standing Committee and Special Corridor

TRAI has recommended that DoT should constitute a standing committee comprising two senior-level officers of joint secretary level each from MeitY, DoT, WPC, TEC, BIS, and two representatives from product manufacturers. The TRAI suggested that the committee should distinctly recognize one testing scheme for the product to be tested. Additionally, TRAI recommended that the committee should assess the global best practices and practicality to identify and declare a specific passage in the Indian marine context.

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