Trai extends deadline for PoI norms discussion paper

Telecom Regulatory Authority of India on Monday extended the deadlines for stakeholder comments and counter-comments on its discussion paper on the norms for provision of interconnection points needed to complete calls, an issue that has been at the heart of the recent disputes between 4G entrant Reliance Jio Infocomm and the country's three-largest telcos - Bharti Airtel, Vodafone India and Idea Cellular.

Trai has now sought comments on the consultation paper by 12 December and counter-comments by 26 December. It had originally sought the submissions by 21 November and 6 December respectively, but has extended them on industry request.

In its discussion paper issued late October, Trai had said new telecom operators had complained that entering into interconnect pacts with existing telcos was a protracted affair, especially since the latter tend to impose a host of terms and conditions that are non-reciprocal and discriminatory.

Trai's discussion paper had come on the heels of its urging the telecom department to slap hefty penalties on Bharti Airtel, Vodafone India – Rs1,050 crore each – and Idea Cellular – Rs950 crore – for denying Jio adequate points of interconnection (PoIs).

The telecom regulator had termed the incumbents' move ''anti-consumer'', and aimed at stifling competition. A new player, Ringo, has also accused incumbent operators of denying it interconnection, because of which it has been unable to launch internet telephony services.

In its discussion paper, Trai had said operators had raised a host of issues regarding interconnection facility ranging from unreasonably high rates asked by existing telecom operators, billing settlement to disconnection amongst others.

Interconnection, it had said, is the lifeline of telecommunications. ''The term interconnection' refers to the commercial and technical arrangement under which telecom service providers (TSPs) connect their equipment, networks and services to enable their subscribers to have access to the subscribers, services and networks of other TSPs,'' it had added.

At present, interconnect pacts are mutually decided among telcos and the regulator intervenes in case of complaints.

Trai had sought feedback on whether current regulations needed tweaking to account for change in technologies, state of the market, license, regulatory and legal changes over the years since 2002, when it was first established.

It also wanted to know if Trai should prescribe standard interconnect rules, if the two sides can't agree on terms within a specific time frame, or if the regulator should prescribe broad guidelines, and leave the finer details to be worked out by the two parties.

The regulator had also sought to know the time-frame for entering into interconnection agreement when a new TSP with a valid telecom license places a request for interconnection to an existing TSP, besides fixing milestones for releasing additional PoIs.

It has also asked whether a common interconnection exchange can be set up for effective interconnection facility which will also lead to reduction in number of ports required for it.