Today’s telecom news includes announcements on TRAI, DoT, TRA, Bharti Airtel, Alcatel‑Lucent Enterprise, Nokia, among others.
TRAI Rejects Satcom Fee Hike, Prioritizes Affordable Rural Connectivity
The telecom regulator TRAI has rejected the DoT’s recommendation to increase satellite‑communication spectrum charges to 5 percent of adjusted gross revenue (AGR) while dropping a fixed ₹500 annual fee per urban subscriber. TRAI argues the ₹500 levy per subscriber could help steer providers toward underserved rural and remote regions — creating a balance between urban and rural connectivity. By maintaining the previous 4 percent AGR rate and retaining the urban surcharge plan, TRAI aims to incentivize satellite operators to expand affordable broadband services in hard‑to‑reach areas.
Oman TRA Strikes Back: Banning Illegal Telecom Gear to Protect Consumers
Oman’s Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) has acted against companies selling unapproved telecom equipment that could contribute to unauthorized networks. This move aims to protect consumers, safeguard data privacy, and maintain the integrity and quality of the country’s telecom infrastructure. Non-certified devices pose risks to network stability and can violate national regulations, prompting TRA to urge all dealers and service providers to comply with approved standards and licensing requirements. By enforcing these regulations, TRA ensures a secure and reliable communications environment, benefiting consumers through improved service quality and reducing potential disruptions or security and privacy hazards from illegal equipment.
Airtel Teams Up with Google to Bring WhatsApp‑Style RCS Messaging to India
Bharti Airtel has partnered with Google to launch RCS messaging in India, enabling richer communication features over mobile data or Wi‑Fi. The collaboration introduces features like read receipts, typing indicators, media/file sharing, and group chats, modernizing the traditional SMS experience. Messages will be billed at approximately ₹0.11 per RCS message under an 80:20 revenue‑sharing model. To mitigate spam concerns, Google’s platform integrates Airtel’s AI‑based spam filter. This rollout aligns Airtel with other major Indian carriers offering RCS, providing users with a modern, feature-rich messaging alternative.
Powering the Future: ALE and Nokia Unveil Next-Gen Enterprise Networks
Alcatel‑Lucent Enterprise (ALE) and Nokia have strengthened their partnership to offer integrated, fiber‑based campus and enterprise network solutions across sectors like transportation, smart cities, energy/utilities, healthcare, and hospitality. Their joint solutions — deployed at Ikos Resorts (Greece), Pantai Jerudong Hospital (Brunei), and Wembley Park (UK) — provide scalable, high‑capacity fiber LANs that support guest services, CCTV, building safety sensors, Wi‑Fi, and more using a unified network architecture.
Shafana Fazal
