Latest news with #NeerajMittal
New Indian Express
2 days ago
- Business
- New Indian Express
BIF claims telcos attempting to block entry of satellite services into India
The ongoing dispute between Indian telecom service providers and satellite communications (satcom) operators has further intensified, as the Broadband India Forum (BIF) — an association of Big Tech and satellite companies — has written a letter to the government accusing telcos of attempting to block entry of next-generation satellite services into India. BIF; whose members include Google, Meta, OneWeb, Hughes, Amazon, and Tata's Nelco; addressed the letter to the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) Secretary, Neeraj Mittal. The letter stated the telcos' claim of a "level playing field" are unfounded in the current context, based on inaccurate data, and incorrect in law. 'We respectfully urge that any request by the Association for review based on the misrepresented and flawed 'level playing field' argument and any other arguments made in their submission should be summarily dismissed,' reads the letter. This rebuttal from BIF comes in response to a letter by the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) to the government, in which it criticized the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India's (TRAI) satellite spectrum pricing as 'unjustifiably low, non-transparent, and non-competitive.' COAI—which represents the country's three private telecom giants, Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel, and Vodafone Idea—argued that TRAI's pricing would unfairly benefit satellite internet providers like Elon Musk's Starlink, to the detriment of terrestrial network operators. COAI warned that satcom services are becoming direct competitors to traditional telecom networks and alleged that TRAI failed to adequately incorporate inputs from local operators before finalizing its recommendations, which are currently under review by the telecom ministry. According to TRAI's proposal, satellite service providers would pay spectrum usage charges (SUC) equivalent to 4% of their adjusted gross revenue (AGR) or Rs 3,500 per MHz annually—whichever is higher. In addition, under existing DoT rules, satcom providers must pay an annual license fee of 8% of AGR. TRAI has also proposed an additional urban-area charge of Rs 500 per subscriber annually for satellite services.
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Business Standard
2 days ago
- Business
- Business Standard
IIT Madras, STL launch multi-core fibre testbed at TTDF Symposium
Indian Institute of Technology Madras and optical solutions major STL Technologies have jointly launched a new multi-core fibre (MCF) testbed, with the aim of advancing India's optical communication infrastructure. The facility was inaugurated at the Telecom Technology Development Fund (TTDF) Symposium held by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) at the IIT Madras Research Park in Chennai. The infrastructure includes both underground (4.07 km) and aerial (1.20 km) cable installations. The cables incorporate 12 multi-core fibres (four cores each) alongside 12 standard single-mode fibres, and will be open to both academic and industry partners. Essentially a research and development (R&D) platform for testing the capabilities of optical fibres in a controlled environment, the testbed will be used to assess use cases and test component interoperability within the MCF ecosystem, the DoT said in a statement. Speaking at the inaugural session, Telecom Secretary Neeraj Mittal said India was at a critical juncture in its innovation journey and stressed the need for collaboration and optimal utilisation of the country's resources. He also announced plans for a dedicated portal to facilitate such collaboration. Launched in 2022, TTDF is a government initiative that supports R&D in next-generation telecom technologies, particularly those aimed at bridging the digital divide in rural and remote areas. It has received over 1,300 proposals for R&D funding since its inception. So far, 120 projects have been approved with over ₹500 crore in funding, and more than ₹187 crore has already been disbursed to beneficiaries, including academic institutions, micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), and startups, the DoT said. Implemented by Digital Bharat Nidhi, TTDF aims to reduce reliance on telecom imports, promote indigenous manufacturing and develop intellectual property in the sector. The TTDF Symposium 2025 was organised to provide a platform for funding beneficiaries to discuss synergies and potential pathways to advance their research and development. The event brought together academics, startups and industry representatives involved in the programme.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Satcom providers junk Indian telcos' demand for level-playing field
NEW DELHI: Satellite communications ( satcom ) players have junked the telecom industry 's call of seeking a level-playing field between mobile and space broadband services. Broadband India Forum (BIF), which represent technology and satcom companies such as Google, Meta, OneWeb, Tata's Nelco, Hughes, among others, has staunchly opposed telecom carriers' opinion that the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has kept satellite spectrum pricing low and non-transparent, compared to prices of spectrum for terrestrial services . The issues of 'level playing field' and 'same service same rule' are based on certain basic legal principles of equality enshrined in Article 14 of the Indian Constitution. According to the Delhi-based association, the core doctrinal requirement under the said Article is that entities must be similarly situated for similar treatment. 'In other words, unequals (satcom and terrestrial services) cannot be treated equally. We submit that two differently placed services which are intrinsically based on different technologies, different regulations and laws, having different intended use, different rights and obligations, cannot be deemed as similar or substitutable or competing services,' TV Ramachandran, director-general of BIF, said in a letter to Neeraj Mittal, secretary, Department of Telecommunications (DoT). ETTelecom has reviewed a copy of the letter dated June 18, 2025. TRAI had recommended the administrative allocation of satcom spectrum for a fee pegged at 4% of adjusted gross revenue (AGR) to be assigned for five years. There won't be any upfront fee for getting spectrum. TRAI Chairman AK Lahoti had categorically rejected the level-playing field argument by telcos, stating that the two technologies were different and that satellites could only be complementary. In turn, BIF termed the Cellular Operators Association of India 's ( COAI ) claims as 'detached from reality', adding that the latter's members have formed commercial partnerships with global satellite service providers, including billionaire Elon Musk's Starlink, and AST SpaceMobile, which demonstrates complementarity between terrestrial and satellite services. In terms of economic scale, BIF said terrestrial telcos in India generate over ₹3.36 lakh crore annually, while the combined satcom market barely touches ₹540-600 crore, or just 0.2% of telco revenue, which 'discredits' any claim of market overlap or substitutability. Ramachandran further said that the cost of the devices is of the order of ₹25,000 (satcom) versus ₹5,000 (terrestrial), with the scale being of the order of 1:5. Likewise, he noted that the number of satellite terminals manufactured in 2024 by the largest satellite service provider was approximately 3 million globally, whereas in India, almost 150 million mobile devices are sold. 'These numbers expose the fallacy of any claim of substitutability or competitive parity,' the executive said. BIF's statement comes close on the heels of telcos, in a recent joint letter through the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) to various government authorities, slamming the sector regulator's recommendations on satcom spectrum pricing , calling them unjustifiably low. Telcos had cautioned the government that if TRAI's recommendations were implemented in their current form, they would create a non-level playing field and impact the sustainability of terrestrial telecom services. 'By no stretch of imagination, satellite communication service providers and terrestrial communication providers are similar or equal. To put both categories at par is wholly unjustified, arbitrary, unconstitutional, being violative of Article unequal entities in this case, which are satcom services ought to be treated differently,' Ramachandran said. 'Due to multiple reasons, the satellite services would not even be an alternative (to terrestrial network). It's a minor complementary, and not even a major complementary service,' Minister of State for Communications Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani told ETTelecom in a recent interview, adding that "there is no need to worry" about it.
Time of India
10-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
DoT's BSNL Ask of States may Hit Private Telcos
The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has written to the state governments to consider using the telecom services of state-run operators Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) and Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd (MTNL), citing data security needs. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has written to the state governments to consider using the telecom services of state-run operators Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) and Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd (MTNL), citing data security governments have from time to time mandated using services of state-run telcos on a project-wise basis, such a broad directive of sorts is unprecedented, said industry executives. If implemented, it could cost private telecom and internet service providers (ISPs) thousands of crores in potential annual revenue, they said, adding that the smallest players would be the hardest hit as they survive on wafer-thin from government contracts constitute a big part of the enterprise revenue of all private telcos and ISPs. The adjusted gross revenue of the telecom industry from April-December 2024 stood at Rs 2,23,799 crore, with private players accounting for more than 92% similar letters, dated April 8, addressed to the chief secretaries of all states and Union Territories, DoT secretary Neeraj Mittal said, 'As BSNL/MNL are becoming competitive in the telecom sector, and in light of the Cabinet decision in the past, I request you to consider utilisation of the services of BSNL and MTNL by all departments/agencies/PSUs (public sector undertakings) of the state government for internet/broadband, landline and leased line requirements.'ET has seen a copy of the added that BSNL — which now runs MTNL's operations as well — would dedicate a separate one-stop nodal point to provide the highest level of services to the state DoT's suggestion could lead to the private sector players missing out on lucrative and typically long-term government sector governments and PSUs give contracts to private players through a tendering process, and the final bidder is selected based on the lowest the DoT's letter distorts the historic level playing field, according to private players, with the government siding with one particular industry executive said the idea behind carving out BSNL and MTNL from the DoT as a separate entity was to let the company function independently and to ensure that the government did not act as a regulator as well as the owner.'The government has been supporting BSNL through various financial packages, and it should compete in the market on its strengths and not through preference,' said the executive, who did not wish to be president of the Internet Service Providers Association of India, Rajesh Chharia, told ET that the government, which is the licensor, should be non-partial towards licensees, whether government or semi-government or PSU or private, for healthy competition among them.'The objective of the government should be the proliferation of broadband and internet rather than promoting any particular service provider. This way other operators will get discouraged and will not come forward for any promotional activity of the country, and people will start questioning patriotism if this partiality is done by the government or department,' he the DoT said the move was approved by the Cabinet in 2019 while approving the revival package for BSNL and letter said 'the Union Cabinet inter-alia had approved the mandatory utilisation of capacities of BSNL and MTNL for internet, landline, and leased line requirements by the Central government, in view of the data security needs.' It further said, 'On similar lines, state governments were also requested to utilise the network capacities of BSNL for their telecom requirements.'So far, the government has invested about Rs 3.22 lakh crore in BSNL and MTNL as part of three revival packages since 2019, including the roll-out of 4G a result of the revival packages, BSNL has sustained revenue increases and for the first time since 2007-08, the company achieved a net profit of Rs 262 crore in the third quarter of 2024-25.'BSNL has accelerated capex investment in the last two years to upgrade its network and telecom infrastructure pan India. A massive investment has been made in transmission equipment and optical fibre cable network,' the letter said. 'The capex is expected to put BSNL on a higher revenue growth trajectory in the future.'
Economic Times
10-06-2025
- Business
- Economic Times
DoT urges state governments to use BSNL and MTNL for enhanced data security
The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has written to the state governments to consider using the telecom services of state-run operators Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) and Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd (MTNL), citing data security governments have from time to time mandated using services of state-run telcos on a project-wise basis, such a broad directive of sorts is unprecedented, said industry executives. If implemented, it could cost private telecom and internet service providers (ISPs) thousands of crores in potential annual revenue, they said, adding that the smallest players would be the hardest hit as they survive on wafer-thin margins. Revenue from government contracts constitute a big part of the enterprise revenue of all private telcos and ISPs. The adjusted gross revenue of the telecom industry from April-December 2024 stood at Rs 2,23,799 crore, with private players accounting for more than 92% share. In similar letters, dated April 8, addressed to the chief secretaries of all states and Union Territories, DoT secretary Neeraj Mittal said, 'As BSNL/MNL are becoming competitive in the telecom sector, and in light of the Cabinet decision in the past, I request you to consider utilisation of the services of BSNL and MTNL by all departments/agencies/PSUs (public sector undertakings) of the state government for internet/ broadband, landline and leased line requirements.' EThas seen a copy of the letter. Mittal added that BSNL — which now runs MTNL's operations as well — would dedicate a separate one-stop nodal point to provide the highest level of services to the state governments. The DoT's suggestion could lead to the private sector players missing out on lucrative and typically long-term government sector contracts. State governments and PSUs give contracts to private players through a tendering process, and the final bidder is selected based on the lowest price. But the DoT's letter distorts the historic level playing field, according to private players, with the government siding with one particular telco. An industry executive said the idea behind carving out BSNL and MTNL from the DoT as a separate entity was to let the company function independently and to ensure that the government did not act as a regulator as well as the owner. 'The government has been supporting BSNL through various financial packages, and it should compete in the market on its strengths and not through preference,' said the executive, who did not wish to be president of the Internet Service Providers Association of India, Rajesh Chharia, told ET that the government, which is the licensor, should be nonpartial towards licensees, whether government or semigovernment or PSU or private, for healthy competition among them. 'The objective of the government should be the proliferation of broadband and internet rather than promoting any particular service provider. This way other operators will get discouraged and will not come forward for any promotional activity of the country, and people will start questioning patriotism if this partiality is done by the government or department,' he packagesBut the DoT said the move was approved by the Cabinet in 2019 while approving the revival package for BSNL and MTNLThe letter said 'the Union Cabinet inter-alia had approved the mandatory utilisation of capacities of BSNL and MTNL for internet, landline, and leased line requirements by the Central government, in view of the data security needs.' It further said, 'On similar lines, state governments were also requested to utilise the network capacities of BSNL for their telecom requirements.' So far, the government has invested about Rs 3.22 lakh crore in BSNL and MTNL as part of three revival packages since 2019, including the roll-out of 4G services. As a result of the revival packages, BSNL has sustained revenue increases and for the first time since 2007-08, the company achieved a net profit of Rs 262 crore in the third quarter of 2024-25. 'BSNL has accelerated capex investment in the last two years to upgrade its network and telecom infrastructure pan India. A massive investment has been made in transmission equipment and optical fibre cable network,' the letter said. 'The capex is expected to put BSNL on a higher revenue growth trajectory in the future.'
