Telcos meet TRAI, raise app-based calling, infra pains

Telecom operators in their meeting with regulator Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) on Tuesday raised multiple pain points, including app-based calling, rationalisation of taxes and infrastructure expansion woes, that are adversely impacting their business.

“We had very fruitful discussion with industry players. They were unanimous on some of the issues that TRAI should deal with in this year like OTT (over-the-top) consultation, one country one licence, infrastructure related issues, rationalisation of taxes under GST. There were 6-7 issues that they want the regulator to look into,” TRAI Chairman RS Sharma told reporters after the meeting.

Telecom operators also called for a spectrum policy to make the industry aware in advance about auction of frequency bands, the TRAI Chairman said.

“They will give us details of the issues in couple of days after which TRAI will be able to share specific roadmap,” Sharma said.

The TRAI Chairman said that telecom operators also asked for consultation around mobile number portability and unsolicited commercial calls.

Talking about call drop report, Sharma said, “We will publish their performance report by the end of this month.”