TRAI extends dates for comments on MVAS paper

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has announced more time to the stakeholders, who were asked to give suggestions for a consultation paper on "Mobile Value Added Services (MVAS)" on 21 July 2011. The last date for receipt of comments has been extended to 23 August and for counter comments to 30 August. 

Quoting from the IAMAI report, TRAI said entertainment had a share of 57 per cent compared to 39 per cent share for information and only four per cent for m-commerce. 

Telecom policy to allow pooling of spectrum

A draft of the national telecom policy for 2011 has come up with the proposal to allow trading, pooling and sharing of spectrum, which is likely to benefit the new as well as established telecom operators. 

Experts say most new operators such as S-Tel, Datacom, Loop Telecom and Etisalat-DB will be keen on trading or sharing spectrum as their spectrum utilisation is minimal because of a low subscriber base. They will have demand from established operators who have not got the go-ahead on their applications for more spectrum. 

Reliance Communications launches Rs 13k 3G tablet

Telecom provider Reliance Communications is the first 3G operator in India to come out with its fully loaded Android tablet, worth Rs 13 K. The 3G Tablet is enabled with a 7-inch capacitive touch screen with Android 2.3 OS a, has 512 MB RAM, and a micro SD external storage. It also has a 2.0MP rear camera and a front camera. Other features include mobile TV, voice calling, GPS and video recording.

Mahesh Prasad, President, Reliance Communications Ltd, said that Reliance Communications has always been a pioneer when it comes to innovation and re-invention, making products which match the requirements of the customers.

Unified Telecom to launch mobile ad for BSNL

Singapore-listed Unified Telecom has recently launched a host of mobile advertising services for state-owned Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) in the eastern region. The BSNL network will render new services like graphics, audio, text and video platforms to its users.

HC directs BCCI to reveal telecast rights guidelines given to broadcasters

The Delhi High Court has directed the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to inform to the court about their guidelines in relation to the rights of the broadcasters who have been granted permission to air the cricket matches across the world by 15 September. The court was hearing a petition filed by Neo Sports Broadcasts Private Limited alleging that TV channels which have been granted re-telecast rights by it are consuming more time than allotted to them.

AIR plans to expand FM operations in 210 new cities

Public sector broadcaster Prasar Bharati is set to expand All India Radio’s FM operations to 210 new cities and towns which would make it the largest player in the space. At present, Prasar Bharati operates FM stations in 100-odd cities. It would then have operations in as many cities as all the private FM operators put together would operate in even after the third phase of auctions.

The national broadcaster will soon forward an investment plan of Rs 2,000 crore to the government to build the necessary infrastructure. Prasar Bharati has already written to the chief secretaries of all states for the allocation of land to set up new stations. Work will start on the infrastructure as soon as approvals are received.

TRAI asks operators to justify rise in tariff

Within weeks of an increase in mobile tariffs by some of the major players, the telecom regulator has asked them to justify the increase in call rates.

In a recent communication to the operators, including Bharti Airtel, Vodafone Essar and Idea Cellular, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) has asked whether they have increased their prices and sought the details of the increased tariff plans.