Trai seeks operators' views for new inter-connect regime

The Telecom regulatory Authority (Trai) on Wednesday sought operators' views on introducing separate charges for terminating video calls as well as for deterring commercial SMSes.

PTI | April 28, 2011



The Telecom regulatory Authority (Trai) today sought operators' views on introducing separate charges for terminating video calls as well as for deterring commercial SMSes.

Trai in a consultation paper on 'Review of Interconnection Usage Charges (IUC)' also wanted to know whether CAPEX should be included in calculating termination charge.

IUCs are the wholesale charges payable by one telecom service provider to another for use of the latter's network for originating, terminating or carrying a call.

IUC often impact consumer tariff.

The regulator also sought to determine the period of new termination charges-- whether it should be for up to 3 years.

"Public consultation through this consultation paper seeks views of the stakeholders on various parameters of fixing of components of the Interconnection Usage Charges," Trai said.

Trai had started a pre-consultation process in December last year and received responses from 10 service providers and two service providers associations.

Some service providers had submitted that regulation of 3G mobile termination charges will reduce their incentives to invest in 3G mobile technologies.

Some of new service providers have also questioned the higher termination and carriage charge for SMSes by existing service providers.

"The inputs provided by these service providers and associations have been taken into consideration while drafting this consultation paper," the regulator said.

At present, termination charge is 20 paise per minute for a domestic call and 40 paisa for international calls.
 

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