Why is it in the news?
- The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) released recommendations on ‘Telecommunication Infrastructure Sharing, Spectrum Sharing, and Spectrum Leasing.’
- TRAI’s recommendations are in response to the Department of Telecommunications’ proposal to permit sharing of all types of telecom infrastructure and network elements.
More about the news
- The Telecommunications Act, 2023, allows the Central Government to permit sharing, trading, leasing, and surrendering of assigned spectrum.
- Currently, only spectrum trading and intra-band spectrum sharing are allowed in India.
| · Spectrum refers to radio frequencies allocated for communication across various sectors. |
Issues
- Issues related to sharing and leasing of spectrum: Distinctions between active (electronic) and passive (non-electronic) infrastructure sharing and ambiguities in related provisions.
| · Active infrastructure refers to electronic infrastructure, while passive refers to non-electronic infrastructure. |
Recommendations
- TRAI recommends allowing licensees to share passive infrastructure like buildings and towers.
- Infrastructure constructed using Digital Bharat Nidhi should be mandated to allow roaming for other service providers in remote areas for three years.
- TRAI suggests permitting spectrum leasing and inter-band spectrum sharing to utilize spectrum more efficiently.
Significance of recommendations
- The recommendations aim to improve cost efficiencies and time to market for telecom companies.
- They also aim to extend services to underserved areas and address connectivity issues faced by subscribers.
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