Over the period of time, I have realised the effect of a robust infrastructure- which has the potential to change the fortunes of a nation. Very much possible that the shitheads sitting up and lording over us have given up this thought totally- not looking beyond their own vested interests.

I have been reading about concerned people who wish to bring about a change through various media. Beyond a flickering headlines, most of them wither out of the public memory sooner or later. Perhaps the media is to be blamed mostly for that. Yet, the ones reporting are derived from the same society as we are. Are we in a fact to be blamed?

The rot goes in much deeper- the malaise is deep set. There have been few lucky people to be able to manipulate the system to their advantage. The education system is in a mess- tinkering with it and ideological brainwashing hasn’t really helped us much. Its a tragedy of monumentous proportions that we are ruled by those people who have no absolute majority in Parliament. What kind of a democracy is this?

Coming back to the infrastructure. Telecom has the potential to bring about disparate groups, spread by either geographical distance or language barriers to come closer on a common platform. The role of telecom in improving the GDP has been explored and enough commentaries made on the same. Yet, vested interests have made sure that we stay aloof in the time warp.

For example, a fundamental shift in the policy to open up the last mile to private players would revolutionise the broadband reach- given the fact that incumbent BSNL is sitting on miles and miles of unused copper. Of course, the policy planners would want to have duplication of the infrastructure- funds that can be utilised elsewhere would invariably line their pockets. This doesnt get proved given the notorious judicial system that is known for inordinate delays.

I dont have the wherewithal to fight the system; stangely, the people who are supposed to be “public servants” are our lords. The same mindset pervades that they be addressed as “Your Lordship”-and hope that you would be attended to.

In this gloom and doom, there is hope- possibly we as a people and ordinary consumers would not be treated unfairly and certainly not at their terms. Yet, this “fight” isnt over yet. I aim to speak out against the whole system on this blog.

Incidentally, I take this oppurtunity to invite among you to contribute. Of course, this would be subjected to “editorial control” so that it conforms to the whole tenor of this blog. Any editorial modification would be notfied and after mutual consent this would be put up on the main website ( Sifybroadband.techwhack.net). I would appreciate a fresh perspective anyday.

TRAI has stressed on the need to focus on the rural areas. This has been its same “focus” ever since it came into existence. I fail to understand that why doesnt the Government make it mandatory for the operators to provide services in rural areas specially when it was mansated in their licences? This is open flouting of the rules. Inevitably these areas would have to be served- yet they have been out of the loop for a good number of years.

Airtel is crowing about the spectrum- of course they need such fora to air there own thoughts-I quote:

“Jagbir Singh, Group CTO of Airtel Enterprise Services, said, “To provide quality service, adequate spectrum should be allocated. QoS and number of subscribers is usually being talked about, but what kind of spectrum is available should also be looked at to provide good quality service.”
Sir, I believe that your current standards of GSM utilises the existing spectrum inefficiently. What would you do with extra spectrum?

BSNL takes the cake. It’s finance head claims:

“BSNL director (finance) Dr. SD Saxena said that there is a tremendous problem of congestion in the network and spectrum is urgently needed. BSNL is proactively trying to push the 3G technology into the villages, but the spectrum to connect is not there.”

For the 3G services in villages- perhaps the rural customers would pay more than Rs 20000 for each handset Mr Saxena? I d agree about the congestion though.

Private Telcos have moved the Surpeme Court on the fixed wireless phone issue. this controversy refuses to die. Business Standard too has a report.

China Mobile envinces interest in Reliance’s GSM arm in the North East. However, there is a subsequent denial.

Finally, VSNL has been raking a ruckus about reducing the prices for its leased lines, thus eascalating the costs downhill. This one would surely drag on in the courts.

Indian Telecom and it’s various shades.

Its been over a year now and somethings never change in Indian Telecom.

TRAI has been trying at best to assert itself. Economic Times reports that TRAI has issued directions that Communications ministry shouldn’t bypass it on tariffs. TRAI is the regulator- Department of Telecom treats its like its own fiefdom. No one knows how to keep both the parties happy. No change in this tug of war being played out for the past so many years. Plus of course it shows how opaque the operators are in terms of pricing the calls.

Reliance pays out money to BSNL-Rs 130 crore to be precise. This was because Reliance was caught “stealing” by showing inbound calls as local calls and thereby avoiding to pay Access Deficit Charge- a political hot potato. This marks the final payment to the PSU BSNL- though by no means the end of the story. If TRAI has its way, it wants to end ADC by the year 2009, depsite pressure from the DoT. I believe that the next round of legal wranglings may start off in the near future- BSNL wouldnt want to let go its cash cow just because TRAI says so. I quote:

“As part of a three-stage process, the ADC kitty will be reduced to Rs 5,600 crore in 2006-07, Rs 2,007 crore in 07-08, and then done away it.
ADC had already been withdrawn in most countries as it was found to be inefficient and anti-competitive”. Hopefully we shall soon realise it. This probably marks the deduction in the ADC component in a step wise manner.

TRAI moots the idea of a certifying body to vet billing. About time since billing is very chaotic and there is no degree of transparency at all.

However, as all the grand ideas fail, TRAI is asking the operators themselves to set up an audit committee! Meaning thereby, someone to look over the operators as they go about looting people!
I quote:
“Mr Baijal, however, felt it would be ideal for the industry association to establish the certification agency. Further, on the billing audit, he said that the regulator is keen that the industry should set up an ombudsman, who will settle disputes including billing between the operator and the user.

Of course, we shall see the implementation soon Mr Baijal!

Some things never change.