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Mint
30-04-2025
- Business
- Mint
Trai, telecom companies spar over data demand
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) and telecom operators are at odds over the telecom regulator's request for regular business data needed to monitor services and ensure rules are being followed, two people in the know said. While Trai argues that data such as details for subscribers using specific recharge packs sought recently is essential for transparency and effective regulation, telcos have raised concerns over competitive sensitivity and the administrative burden they face for meeting those data sharing requests. This has led to a growing standoff between the two, one of the two people said. 'Trai is the sector regulator and its various divisions require data from telecom operators on a regular basis. This data is essential for Trai to check quality of service, compliance by the operators, competitive behaviour and most importantly to serve consumer interest," the second person said, adding that it is the obligation of telecom operators to share such information. Also read: Bharti Hexacom puts ₹ 1,134 cr tower sale deal with Indus Towers on hold after TCIL intervenes Under Section 12 of the Trai Act, 1997, the regulator has the right to call upon any service provider at any time to provide information or explanation relating to its affairs. The telecom operators, however, have raised concerns over this practice by Trai, especially on the diversity and increased cases of such requests by the regulator. 'The current operational framework requesting various data/reports by various divisions of Trai has raised significant procedural and business-related concerns that warrant immediate action of the authority," the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) said in a letter dated 10 February to Trai secretary Atul Kumar Chaudhary. Mint has seen a copy of the letter. COAI represents major telecom operators such as Bharti Airtel, Reliance Jio and Vodafone Idea. Queries emailed to COAI and Trai on Wednesday morning did not elicit any response. While COAI said the operators aim to support the regulatory process in the best possible manner, it said Trai should avoid asking for 'commercially sensitive" information. 'In certain cases, the data, information and presentations have been solicited with very short response timelines—which presents substantial operational challenges for TSPs (telecom service providers)," COAI said, adding that such short timelines put risk of either non-compliance to timelines or risk of information being submitted without adequate checks and balances. Also read: Telcos warn of network rollout delays as states lag on infra rules 'Yes, the telecom operators can seek time to provide information, but they should not suggest Trai to avoid making requests for business-sensitive information," said Satya N. Gupta, former principal advisor at Trai. According to Gupta, Trai can request any information. If the telecom operator thinks the information sought is business sensitive, they can request that Trai keep it confidential and not share it with others. In a five-point suggestion to Trai for seeking data, the telecom association said the regulator should do an impartial analysis to check for commercial sensitivity of the data before asking the telecom operators. 'Further, no data should be sought that is beyond the scope of the authority's powers and functions and pertains to other competent authorities like LEAs (law enforcement agencies)," COAI said. Besides, the association has asked for adequate time to comply with certain data requests. 'Failure to comply (with Trai's directions) may result in Trai issuing show-cause notices (to the operators), initiating enforcement actions or recommending penal measures to the Department of Telecommunications, which may include financial penalties or action under the relevant license conditions," said Sukrit Kapoor, partner at King Stubb & Kasiva, Advocates and Attorneys. 'While operators may raise concerns about commercially sensitive data, they cannot unilaterally refuse disclosure. However, if an operator believes that Trai's request is excessive, arbitrary, or outside the scope of its powers, it may approach the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) under Section 14 of the Trai Act to seek relief," Kapoor added. Lately, there have been multiple disputes between the regulator and the telecom operators. Trai recently imposed a ₹ 141 crore financial disincentive on the operators due to their failure to curb spam. After operators approached the telecom tribunal, the penalty order was stayed. 'The next hearing of the case is on 25 July. Trai might seek an early hearing in the matter," said an official on the condition of anonymity. Also read: India's public wifi ambitions falters as telcos resist subsidising their rivals In February, the telecom operators also criticized Trai's new rules to curb spam calls and messages, citing that the authority has substantially increased the penalty imposed on the TSPs for not curbing spam. According to operators, Trai has left over-the-top (OTT) communication apps like WhatsApp and telemarketers outside its regulatory framework. The ministry of electronics and information technology (MeitY) will engage with stakeholders to tackle spam over OTT platforms, according to a Trai release on 25 April. The regulator is currently deliberating the contours of bringing telemarketers under the regulatory ambit,the official cited above added . Last year, Reliance Jio argued that Trai should revise the consultation paper on satellite spectrum pricing. The telecom operator said the Trai consultation overlooked issues related to a level playing field between telecom operators and satellite companies as it did not consider the spectrum auction method for satellite internet services. Trai, however, dismissed Jio's request, citing that the Telecom Act already paved the way for administrative (non-auction) allocation of satellite spectrum.
Mint
22-04-2025
- Business
- Mint
Adani halts telecom ambitions, transfers spectrum rights to Bharti Airtel
The Adani group has effectively shelved its telecom ambitions, agreeing to transfer rights to 400MHz of 26GHz spectrum to Bharti Airtel Ltd for a fee, signalling a pause in its plans to connect its infrastructure assets. Adani Data Networks, a wholly owned subsidiary of Adani Enterprises Ltd, on Tuesday said it has signed definitive agreements with Bharti Airtel and its arm Bharti Hexacom to transfer the rights to use 400MHz of spectrum in the 26GHz band. With this move, Adani has effectively signalled a pause to its ambitions to use the telecom licence and spectrum to connect its ports, airports and other facilities. Notably, Adani has paid around ₹ 57 crore to the department of telecommunications (DoT) for the spectrum purchase and the remaining amount of over ₹ 150 crore (excluding interest) will be paid by Airtel to DoT over the years, officials aware of the matter said. In addition to the payment, there will be an interest component in the yearly instalment method, officials added. The spectrum trading assumes significance as the Adani group, which acquired the spectrum for ₹ 212 crore in a 2022 auction, was not able to deploy it for connectivity in its ports, airports, logistics, power plants, etc. 'Airtel has taken over the payment obligation from Adani. Now onwards, Airtel will pay the annual amount to DoT in August every year,' an industry executive said, asking not to be identified. The 26GHz band is crucial for enterprise connectivity and would be required for telecom operators to build capacity going forward to handle the increase in traffic on 5G, analysts said, adding that the band has less device ecosystem and is not being put to use widely. Telecom operators Jio and Airtel have been using some 26GHz spectrum band in rolling out the fixed wireless access (FWA) broadband services as well. 'The spectrum covers six telecom circles—Gujarat (100MHz), Mumbai (100MHz), Andhra Pradesh (50MHz), Rajasthan (50MHz), Karnataka (50MHz) and Tamil Nadu (50MHz),' Adani Enterprises said in an exchange filing. In a separate filing, Airtel said, 'The closing of the transaction is subject to satisfaction of the standard conditions (including conditions stated in the Spectrum Trading Guidelines) and statutory approval(s).' In July 2022, Adani Data bought 400MHz of spectrum in the 26GHz band after acquiring the unified licence, which is needed to provide telecom services. At that time, the Adani group clarified that it will not provide consumer mobility service and use the spectrum for private captive networks for connectivity in ports, airports, logistics, power generation, etc. 'The 26GHz band is yet to find a use case worldwide. There is no benefit for Airtel at the moment, but the spectrum has future potential once the ecosystem grows. There will be a requirement for enterprise connectivity and industrial automation solutions through captive private networks,' said Satya N. Gupta, former principal adviser at the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai). The private network as a use case for 5G, however, has not picked up so far in the country, according to Gupta. Lately, DoT also sent multiple communications to Adani Group asking why the company was not able to meet minimum rollout obligations of launching 5G services, officials said, adding that the company was looking at the option to surrender or trade the spectrum as it was unable to find use-cases for its deployment. At that auction, Airtel had acquired 17,600 MHz of 26GHz spectrum for ₹ 5,592 crore. Adani, however, continues to hold the unified licence, which means that it can enter the telecom sector whenever it wants to at a later stage, another industry executive said. First Published: 22 Apr 2025, 09:21 PM IST
