TRAI intros unified licence guidelines draft

NEW DELHI, INDIA: Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) on Monday unveiled a draft of the unified licence system. The new regime allows operators to offer STD, ISD, Internet and infrastructure provider (IP-1) services at Rs 20 crore.

Conceptualized in 2003, the unified licence regime would not include mobility. Under A, B and C categories, the services would be available for Rs. 2 crore, 1 crore and Rs. 50 lakh respectively. The regulator also mulls D category for Rs. 15 lakh to cater to smaller districts.

TRAI has fixed entry fee for STD and ISD licence at Rs. 2.5 crore and national ISP licence to be available for Rs 30 lakh. Broadband Wireless Access operators could be one of the beneficiaries to acquire a national licence under the new regime.

The draft also lays emphasis on penalties, which might turn out to be a bone of contention between operators and the regulatory body. Under the new regime, any violation at national level by service providers could attract a penalty of Rs. 10 crore to 50 crore, while service area violation would be penalized with Rs. 5 crore to 20 crore.