Today’s telecom news includes announcements on Orange, TRAI, COAI, DoT, among others.
Orange Takes Bold Safety Stand: Marseille Site Shut Amid Crime Spike
Orange has temporarily closed its Saint-Mauront site in Marseille from November 28 to mid-December, impacting around 1,000 employees, after a surge in gang-related drug violence raised serious safety concerns. The recent murder in the area accelerated the decision. France’s employment minister fully backed the move and urged stronger police deployment to restore order. Orange is providing remote-work and relocation options, underscoring its commitment to safeguarding staff while authorities work to stabilise the neighbourhood.
Telecom Giants Slam TRAI’s 1 percent Turnover Penalty as “Excessive”
TRAI has proposed draft rules imposing penalties of up to 1 percent of annual turnover on telecom operators for incorrect or incomplete financial filings. Major operators Bharti Airtel, Reliance Jio, and Vodafone Idea, through the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), have opposed the proposal, calling the penalty “excessive and disproportionate.” They argue that minor or inadvertent errors could attract large fines, conflicting with the government’s ease-of-doing-business goals. The operators point out that past reforms under the Jan Vishwas Act, 2023, aimed to decriminalise procedural lapses, and the existing compliance regime — audited accounts and revenue certificates — should suffice.
Mangaluru Prison Signal Jammers Spill Over, Disrupt City Mobile Networks
A Department of Telecommunications (DoT) report reveals that cellphone jammers at Mangaluru District Prison are disrupting public mobile networks far beyond the permitted range. The jammers, meant to block signals inside the prison, were found affecting IMT and Wi‑Fi bands up to 900 metres from the prison and causing weaker interference as far as 2.5 km. Nearby residents and businesses have experienced widespread voice and data disruptions, particularly during peak hours.
Shafana Fazal
