Dear Patrons,

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) held an Open House Discussion on its Supplementary Consultation Paper [CP] on 'Roadmap to Promote Broadband Connectivity and Enhanced Broadband Speed' on June 23, 2021. During the discussion, the regulator commented on private sector investments coming forward to expedite the fixed line expansion. The regulator suggested the PPP models as the best feasible way forward; and expects some of the International best practice models on the global fixed line proliferation case studies to be shared with the authority soon. However, the TRAI Chairman showed his dissatisfaction regarding the stakeholders' inputs on street furniture and expects more detailed and ingenious inputs from the stakeholders.

The focus of participants' concern was around the incentive/subsidy disbursal mechanisms and on the complex regulatory/administrative structure in place.

SIA-India participated in the OHD.

Please see the comments here: https://www.sia-india.com/positions/trai.html

Meetings:

SIA-India meeting with ISRO

In a meeting between senior members of SIA-India and senior officials of ISRO various issues of mutual interest and importance to the 'Space' ecosystem were discussed and it was decided to explore avenues to take the engagement forward. The opening up of the space segment to pvt players opens up new vistas to build on the solid foundation laid by ISRO. SIA-India looks forward to creating bridge between ISRO and the private industry and academia to help in the growth in Space economy in the country. As an initial step, SIA-India will be organizing a workshop on "SatCom India- post reform era" with ISRO's support and participation for exchange of ideas by government, academia and domestic and international experts in all areas of interest in space sector for India.

SIA-India meeting with TCIL:

At a meeting with SIA-India and TCIL, discussion veered around the need to work with policy and regulatory bodies to rationalise the cost of the satellite bandwidth in India. At present, satellite connectivity for Defence, Education and Health is expensive and hence could well be a deterrent to the adoption of widespread usage of SatCom services, which are otherwise perfectly suited to offer seamless connectivity to the large swathes of unconnected population in India.

SIA-India meeting with BBNL:

Bharat Broadband Nigam Limited (BBNL) and Telecommunications Consultants India (TCIL) to provide high-speed satellite connectivity to 5,000 remote gram panchayats [GPs], adding new sites as and when non feasible fibre sites are identified. In a meeting with the BBNL, SIA-India team discussed issues around 1mbps per GP, which is very less, and the cost of satellite bandwidth is proving to be expensive, which is a matter of growing concern.