TRAI - Current Affairs Questions and Answers

ANSWER: Voice Calls over 4G

Explanation:
Telecom regulator Trai will bring out in the next few weeks its order on the revised quality of service norms for mobile services, including benchmarks for newer technologies like VoLTE.

Elaborating on the review of service quality norms, TRAI has indicated new standards like VoLTE have come up whose parameters have to be mapped equivalent to parameters of other technologies.

Interestingly, new technologies have come like VoLTE which have different names for some parameters. So, TRAI has to map them so that the service quality parameters are in place.

Tightening the noose around mobile operators over call drops, Trai last year had issued a consultation paper where it proposed stricter quality norms for local areas and graded financial disincentives for poor services.

The final views of the regulator on this consultation paper are expected now.

Airtel, Aircel and RCom's 2G service quality was below Trai norms in December quarter on the issue of regulation of Internet-based call and messaging applications termed 'Over The Top' services, TRAI noted that the regulator had previously initiated consultation on the same.

VoLTE: Know More

• VoLTE stands for voice over LTE.
  
• It's voice calls over a 4G LTE network, rather than the 2G or 3G connections which are usually
• 4G is not just about downloading, streaming and web browsing
• It can also be used to improve calls.

ANSWER: "Sharing of Infrastructure in Television Broadcasting Distribution Sector".

Explanation:
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) on 29th March, 2017 released its recommendations on "Sharing of Infrastructure in Television Broadcasting Distribution Sector".

According to the recommendations of Trai secretary Sudhir Gupta the television (TV) broadcasting sector has witnessed tremendous growth in the last decade.

There has been an exponential increase in the number of satellite TV channels which predominantly distributed using Cable TV, Direct to Home (DTH), and Head-End in the Sky (HITS) networks to subscribers.

At present, there are seven DTH operators, more than 1200 Multi System Operators(MSOs) and 2 HITS operators in the country.

The ministry of information and broadcasting (MIB) had sent a reference in April 2016 requesting TRAI to examine the issue of the infrastructure sharing and provide its recommendation.

The MIB had also sought recommendation on the amendment that may be required in the Cable TV Networks (Regulation) Act 1995 and Rules to facilitate the infrastructure sharing.

The TRAI examined the issues in sharing of infrastructure in TV broadcasting distribution sector comprehensively through comprehensive consultation with the stakeholders by issuing pre-consultation paper, consultation paper and conducting open house discussion with them.

After considering the comments, counter-comments and views expressed by the stakeholders during the consultation process, the recommendation was finalized on "Sharing of Infrastructure in Television Broadcasting Distribution Sector".

These recommendations are to ease up policy environment for facilitating sharing of infrastructure in TV broadcasting distribution sector, on voluntary basis.

In addition, it would lower the entry barriers for new service providers and provide more space on broadcasting distribution networks for niche channels - necessary for satisfying the diverse needs of general public - to reach targeted customers.

Lowering of entry barriers in the distribution space could propel competition in the market and more choices to consumers due to presence of multiple operators in single territory.

ANSWER: BharatNet

Explanation:
TRAI has indicated a public private partnership model for the ambitious BharatNet project, saying the arrangement will ensure maintenance and marketing of mega infrastructure.

• TRAI Chairman RS Sharma made this announcement during a NASSCOM meet.
• Government has proposed providing broadband connectivity to 2,50,000 village panchayats under the project.
• PPP model would overcome difficulties in maintenance, marketing and usage of infrastructure for this project.
• Without the PPP model over 1000000 panchayats only will be covered; wireless alone cannot solve the problem of data connectivity in India.
• With respect to public Wi-Fi hotspots, TRAI has suggested Common Service Centres could be used as common hotspots for Wi-Fi connectivity.
• BharatNet seeks to connect Indian households, particularly in the rural areas through broadband by 2017 forming the base of the Digital India programme.
• At present BBNL or Bharat Broadband Network Ltd is handling the NOFN project executed by BSNL, Railtel and Power Grid.
• PPP model that aligns private incentives with long term service delivery n a Build-Own-Operate-Transfer model of implementation should be the preferred means of implementation.
• Concessionaire should be handed the task of deployment of NOFN and network infrastructure, according to the telecom regulator.

ANSWER: Both b and c

Explanation:
Telecom sector in India has grown massively in the previous decade and subscriptions have crossed 1 billion.

• Subscribers are filing large number of complaints for TSPs and individual consumer grievance redressal is outside TRAI licensing conditions for TSPs.
• A consultation paper presents an overview of the current consumer grievance redressal mechanism and its efficacy.
• It also seeks views on grievance redressal and alternatives such as appointment of Telecom Ombudsman.

ANSWER: Quality of service rules

Explanation:
TRAI will soon start a consultation process to fix “quality of service” rules for mobile data including average data speed for operators.

• Regulator will also launch a mobile app for measuring real time internet speeds that consumers get
• Data will be made available on TRAI Analytics portal.
• Through the application, TRAI Myspeed App, TRAI will get real time data from customers. This will be put on TRAI Analytics Portal.
• This will show mobile data speed of each operator within a given area on real time basis.
• TRAI has issued service quality benchmarks for wireless data earlier but Sharma said telecom operators have complained law of physics does not guarantee a minimum speed that they can provide to consumers.
• TRAI is an independent regulatory of the telecommunications business in the country. It was established on February 20, 1997 by a Parliamentary Act to regulate telecom services and tariffs in the country.
• Earlier regulation of telecom services and tariffs were overseen by Central Government.
• TRAI aims to grow telecom networks in India and emerging global information society

ANSWER: Net Neutrality

Explanation:
Telecom Regulatory Authority of India on 8th February 2016 barred TSPs from charging differential rates for data services prohibiting Free Basics and Airtel Zero Platform. While no service provider can provide discriminatory tariffs for data services in association with content. no service provider can also enter into discriminatory tariffs for data services and reduced tariff has only been permitted for accessing or providing emergency services. Financial punishments will also be imposed for regulation contravention and the regulation may be reviewed after a period of 2 year. Fine of INR 50,000 will be levied each day, subject to maximal value of INR 50 lakh for violation of regulation by service providers.

ANSWER: Data Usage

Explanation:
The directive issued on 7th Aug’15 mandates telecom operators to provide toll free number '1925' from September 1 to activate or deactivate mobile internet service either by making a call on the number and following instruction or by sending a SMS. The new directive from TRAI follows a large number of complaints from customers that mobile operators are keeping the process of deactivation very complex to earn extra revenue. The new amendment issued in Telecom Consumers Protection Regulations directs telecom operators not to charge subscribers for usage beyond subscribed limit without their explicit consent.

ANSWER: May 2015

Explanation:
As per the data released by regulator TRAI, at the end of May 2015 the total number of telephone connections stood at 1,002.05 million, of which 975.78 million connections were wireless or mobile.

ANSWER: 113

Explanation:
India is ranked at 113th with a penetration of 3.2 per 100 inhabitants. India ranks 125th in the world for fixed broadband penetration. In fact Bhutan and Sri Lanka are ahead of us.