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DoT-TC first meet under new govt slated for June 13

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V&D Bureau
New Update

The Department of Telecom (DoT) will meet for the first time the Telecom Commission (TC) under the new government on June 13.

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The various issues of discussions will encompass spectrum sharing, mobile number portability, broadband network, usage of the universal service obligation fund for certain projects, etc.

If full mobile number portability is provided, subscribers will be able to retain their numbers if they move on to any other part of the country. Currently, it is confined to the same service area only. 

Telecom regulator TRAI has suggested that operators should be given six months time from the date the full portability is approved for making requisite changes in their networks.

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During the discussions, the Telecom Commission will vet the Rs 20,000 crore funding required for the National  Optical Fiber Network project for rolling out Wi-Fi services. The government is planning to provide Wi-Fi services at panchayat levels.

The Telecom Commission will also review the spectrum sharing issue, which will allow operators to share spectrum and thus help in the optimum usage of the airwaves. 

It is likely to revisit its earlier decision on this and may allow spectrum sharing among operators who have airwaves in 2100 MHz band. It will also decide upon the spectrum usage charges(SUC) that operators need to pay among themselves.

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Earlier, the DoT had suggested that spectrum sharing should not be permitted for operators sharing 3G spectrum and sharing of spectrum should be given a period of five years that can be extended for five more years.

Other pending issues will be providing mobile services in nine naxal-hit states, strengthening of telecom connectivity in North East and satellite phone service license to BSNL for security forces.

The last meeting of the commission was held on March 27.

 

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