Latest news with #COAI
Time of India
11 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
COAI flags Trai's satcom recommendations; claims assumptions incorrect, low charges unjustifiable
Industry body COAI has approached the telecom department to raise concerns over Trai recommendations on the satcom spectrum, saying "incorrect assumptions" have led to unjustifiably low spectrum charges for satellite services relative to terrestrial networks . In a letter dated May 29, COAI claimed that Trai's recommendations are based on incorrect assumptions and that their implementation will hit the sustainability of terrestrial services, which form the foundation of India's digital infrastructure. COAI has urged the Department of Telecom (DoT) to form a committee to "undertake a comprehensive review of the recommendations in their entirety, ensuring the process is guided by principles of fairness, transparency, and equity and also give an opportunity to TSPs (telcos) to share their views regarding the same". by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Don't Bother With An Expensive Will (Do This Instead) Local Will Finder Undo Cellular Operators' Association of India (COAI) argued that the recommendations provide a regulatory advantage to commercial NGSO satellites against terrestrial broadband service providers and, if accepted by the DoT in their present form, will undermine competition and create a non-level playing field. COAI said that Trai's recommendations do not appear to address the most fundamental and contentious issue - the lack of a level playing field between terrestrial service providers and satellite operators serving the same market. Live Events "The said recommendations are based on incorrect assumptions and implementation of these recommendations will impact the sustainability of terrestrial services that form the foundation of India's digital infrastructure," it said. COAI, in its letter, claimed that Trai has underestimated the potential capacities of satellite networks while possibly overstating those of terrestrial networks. This, it said, "resulted in a flawed foundation for the entire exercise". "Use of accurate capacity data from both terrestrial and satellite operators would have yielded a more transparent and reliable assessment of respective capacities of satellite and terrestrial networks," it said. The "fundamental flaw" in the capacity assumptions exercise undermines the DoT's clear mandate to ensure competitive parity between satellite and terrestrial services. "Incorrect assumptions have led to unjustifiably low spectrum charges for satellite services relative to terrestrial networks" said the letter addressed to DoT Secretary Neeraj Mittal. COAI further said that the regulator was expected to recommend a pricing structure that ensures a level playing field between satellite-based and terrestrial operators after doing a complete techno-economic analysis, but "has instead, surprisingly, based its recommendations on the ad-hoc spectrum charges set on an administrative basis for non-competing VSAT services using Geo-Stationary (GSO) satellites. The telecom regulator last month recommended that satellite communication companies like Starlink pay four per cent of their adjusted gross revenue (AGR) as spectrum charges to the government. Operators offering satellite-based broadband internet services in urban areas would have to shell out an additional Rs 500 per subscriber annually. No additional levy would be applicable for services in rural areas. COAI also argued that the recommendation of a spectrum charge at four per cent of AGR is without justification. "It is well known and Trai would surely be fully aware that with the advent of next-generation non-geostationary satellite orbit (NGSO) broadband services -- including low Earth orbit (LEO) and medium Earth orbit (MEO) constellations -- satellite services are now capable of directly substituting and competing with terrestrial fixed and mobile broadband networks," COAI said. Trai's current recommendations fall short of ensuring a level playing field, COAI claimed. The proposed spectrum charges are even lower than the administrative fees currently levied on GSO-based VSAT services, which do not compete with terrestrial networks, it added. "Spectrum Charges on a revenue share basis without any entry fee promote regulatory arbitrage and tilt the level playing field against terrestrial broadband service providers," it said. COAI argued that the additional proposal to subsidise user terminals or satellite operators through the Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN) fund further tilts the level playing field against the terrestrial operator, especially given that a majority of the DBN levy is contributed by competing terrestrial operators. The association said that the recommendations are non-transparent based on non-justifiable assumptions rather than factual data. "The limited consideration of stakeholder inputs coupled with the absence of comprehensive consultation on key issues, such as ensuring a level playing field, evaluating network capacity, determining assignment methods, and establishing fair spectrum valuation, along with reliance on flawed assumptions, has culminated in recommendations that are not only inequitable but may also contravene the principles embodied in the Telecommunications Act, 2023," as per COAI. PTI
Hans India
14 hours ago
- Business
- Hans India
COAI welcomes govt's move to stop illegal signal boosters on e-commerce platforms
New Delhi: The Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) on Monday welcomed the government's new guidelines aimed at stopping the online sale of illegal mobile signal boosters and wireless jammers. The guidelines, issued by the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) on May 27, are seen as a major step to improve network quality and protect consumers from the harmful effects of unauthorised radio equipment. The new rules, officially titled 'Guidelines for the Prevention and Regulation of Illegal Listing and Sale of Radio Equipment including Walkie Talkies on E-Commerce Platforms, 2025', clearly ban the listing and sale of mobile signal boosters and jammers on online shopping platforms. This is outlined in Clause 4(i)(b), which directly addresses these devices, citing their role in causing network disruptions and customer complaints. The COAI has long raised concerns about the unchecked sale and use of these illegal devices. According to the industry body, these signal boosters are often installed without permission in homes and commercial buildings, leading to serious problems in mobile network performance for licensed telecom operators. COAI Director General, Lt Gen Dr. S.P. Kochhar (retd), thanked both the Department of Consumer Affairs and the Department of Telecommunications for taking strong action on this issue. "Clause 4(i)(b) of the guidelines is a strong validation of our concerns and advocacy. We believe this proactive step will go a long way in ensuring quality of service and upholding consumer rights," he said. The COAI urged all e-commerce companies to fully follow the new rules and called for strict enforcement to ensure compliance. The association also expressed its commitment to working with the government and other stakeholders to protect the country's digital communications infrastructure. The move is expected to improve mobile network services and reduce interference caused by illegal radio equipment, benefiting both telecom providers and millions of mobile users across India.
Time of India
16 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
Guidelines against illegal sale of radio equipment to help improve mobile QoS: COAI
NEW DELHI: The recently notified guidelines against the prevention and regulation of illegal sales of radio equipment, including walkie-talkies, on e-commerce platforms will help improve mobile quality of services (QoS) and uphold consumer rights, telecom carriers said on Monday. With the guidelines being notified on May 27, 2025, the Department of Consumer Affairs (DoCA) said it aims to enforce penalties and platform liability in case of non-compliance, mandate verification of seller credentials and certification, introduce automated monitoring and takedown mechanisms for unauthorised listing, and drive consumer awareness through disclosures. 'We sincerely thank the Department of Consumer Affairs and the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) for recognising the gravity of the issue and responding with these decisive measures. We believe that this proactive step will go a long way in ensuring quality of service and upholding consumer rights,' said SP Kochhar, director-general of the Cellular Operators Association of India ( COAI ). The Delhi-based association represents telecom incumbents including Reliance Jio , Bharti Airtel , and Vodafone Idea (Vi). According to COAI, the guidelines also provide a much-needed regulatory response to the persistent challenge of illegal sale and misuse of unauthorised wireless devices, including mobile signal boosters and jammers. Telcos have particularly hailed Clause 4(i)(b) of the guidelines, which explicitly prohibits online platforms from allowing the listing or sale of mobile signal boosters and wireless jammers, recognising the widespread network disruptions and consumer grievances these unauthorised devices have caused. Notably, COAI has repeatedly raised concerns regarding the rampant and illegal sale of such devices on e-commerce platforms and their unauthorised installation in residential and commercial establishments, which have been found to cause significant degradation in network quality and consumer experience across licensed telecom networks.
India.com
a day ago
- Business
- India.com
Its Mukesh Ambani, Sunil Mittal vs Elon Musk again as Jio and Airtel gets ready to...
(File) Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Jio and Sunil Mittal-owned Bharti Airtel, two of India's largest telecom service providers, are once again at odds with Starlink– the satcom service owned by world's richest man Elon Musk– following a brief truce between the domestic telecom major and the US-based satcom giant. Jio, Airtel object to TRAI recommendations According to a report by the Times of India (TOI), domestic telecom providers, including Jio and Airtel, have objected to the recommendations made by TRAI regarding spectrum allocation to satcom companies, alleging that these are 'non-transparent and non- justifiable', and tilted in favor of satellite companies over domestic terrestrial operators. In a statement, the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), which represents Indian telecom firms, rejected TRAI's assumption that satcom will merely be a fringe player with business presence limited to rural areas and remote, unconnected regions. COAI asserted that in 'reality', satcom service will be in direct competition with terrestrial networks. 'These recommendations thus create a substantial regulatory arbitrage as they fail to appreciate that in reality, satellite communication services are fast emerging as full-fledged competitors in the broadband market and the leading NGSO (non-geostationary satellite orbits) constellations are actively targeting retail and enterprise users in all geographies, including urban and well-connected regions,' said COAI DG Lt. Gen. (Retd) SP Kochhar, as per the TOI report. TRAI recommendations 'non-transparent', says COAI COAI also accused TRAI of not paying attention to any inputs provided by local telecom majors in its recommendations, and these inputs are now under consideration by the Telecom Ministry. It termed the TRAI recommendations as non-transparent, and based on 'non-justifiable assumption' rather than factual data. 'The limited consideration of stakeholder inputs coupled with the absence of comprehensive consultation on key issues — such as ensuring a level-playing field, evaluating network capacity, determining assignment methods, and establishing fair spectrum valuation—along with reliance on flawed assumptions, has culminated in recommendations that are not only inequitable but may also contravene the principles embodied in the Telecommunications Act, 2023,' the COAI stated. Mukesh Ambani, Sunil Mittal vs Elon Musk Earlier, domestic telecom operators led by Mukesh Ambani-owned Jio and Sunil Mittal's Airtel, had objected the government's decision to allocate spectrum on administrative basis to satellite communication (satcom) companies. However, Jio and Airtel later decided to partner with Starlink, weeks after Elon Musk met Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his US visit in February. Domestic firms purchase spectrum or airwaves via auctions, and COAI has raised objected to the 'differential spectrum pricing' suggested for terrestrial services versus satcom operators.', demanding that price per MHz should be equivalent or at least comparable for both, especially when used to reach the same consumers for identical services. Recently, Elon Musk-owned Starlink received a letter of intent (LOI) from the telecom ministry to begin services, and now awaits a formal license to start its India operations.
Time of India
a day ago
- Business
- Time of India
After a temporary truce, Airtel and Reliance Jio take on Musk's Starlink once again
NEW DELHI: The temporary truce that domestic telecom majors Airtel and Reliance Jio struck with Elon Musk's satcom venture Starlink has been disturbed. The local telecom operators have raised questions over Trai's recommendations regarding spectrum allocation to satcom companies and alleged that they are 'non-transparent and non-justifiable', and favour satellite companies over the homegrown terrestrial operators. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), the body representing the local companies, claimed that much against Trai's assumption that satcom will be a fringe player with a business case only in network-unserved areas and rural regions, the 'reality' is that it will compete with the terrestrial networks. 'These recommendations thus create a substantial regulatory arbitrage as they fail to appreciate that in reality, satellite communication services are fast emerging as full-fledged competitors in the broadband market and the leading NGSO (non-geostationary satellite orbits) constellations are actively targeting retail and enterprise users in all geographies, including urban and well-connected regions,' COAI DG Lt. Gen. (Retd) SP Kochhar said. COAI claimed that Trai did not take into account inputs provided by the local players before coming out with its recommendations that are now being considered by the telecom ministry. 'These recommendations are non-transparent based on non-justifiable assumption rather than factual data. The limited consideration of stakeholder inputs coupled with the absence of comprehensive consultation on key issues -- such as ensuring a level-playing field, evaluating network capacity, determining assignment methods, and establishing fair spectrum valuation—along with reliance on flawed assumptions, has culminated in recommendations that are not only inequitable but may also contravene the principles embodied in the Telecommunications Act, 2023. ' The local companies – who buy airwaves through auctions -- had previously raised objections to the government's decision to give spectrum to satcom companies administratively, but had later decided to partner Starlink (both Airtel and Jio), weeks after Musk had a meeting with PM Narendra Modi during the latter's visit to the US in February. Starlink recently received a letter of intent (LoI) from the telecom ministry to begin services, and now awaits a formal license. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now In its representation, COAI also raised objections to the 'differential spectrum pricing' suggested for terrestrial services versus satcom operators. '… the price per MHz should be equivalent or at least comparable for both, especially when used to reach the same consumers for identical services. Equity and non-discrimination principles require that if spectrum for satellite-based services are to be assigned administratively rather than through auction, its pricing must reasonably reflect parity with auction-discovered rates applicable to terrestrial spectrum in comparable frequency bands. '
