Tag Archive for 'Department of Telecom'

TRAI: Filed for RTI application regarding Broadband

Published on 09th Nov 2009 in Right to Information Act. 3 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , .

Here is the text of the email, fax and the registered post sent to TRAI regarding various issues related to Broadband.

To,
The Central Public Information Officer
Telecom Regulatory Authority of India
Mahanagar Doorsanchar Bhawan,
Jawaharlal Nehru Marg, Old Minto Road,
New Delhi-110 002
Tele: 011-23211622
Fax: 011-23213294

E-mail: ap@trai.gov.in

Sub: Application under the Right to Information Act, 2005 for information relating to Broadband Internet, Fair Usage Policies and pricing mechanism.

Dear Sir,

I am a citizen of India, and I request you to kindly provide me with the following information under the Right to Information Act, 2005 with regards to information relating to Broadband Internet, Fair Usage Policies and pricing mechanism.

1)Why the definition of “broadband” has been kept at 256kbps and not subject to revision for higher speeds? Is there a proposal to re-define the speed of broadband access? If yes, kindly provide the details of the file, notings and objections if any received from Internet Service Providers. The same to be provided in writing by way of certified photocopies.

2)What is the meaning of the term “unlimited internet”?

3)What is the meaning of the term FAIR USAGE POLICY? Has this been put up or suggested by TRAI? If yes, what is the basis for the introducing such a policy? Has the cross section of the user base been consulted before implementing such a policy?

4)Does fair usage policy violate any of the provisions of TRAI?

5)If it does, what action can be taken against errant Internet Service Provider?

6)Has any Internet Service Provider been ever penalised for violating for introducing “fair usage policy”?

7)Do the Internet Service Providers provide details to TRAI about their various broadband plans?

8)If yes, has TRAI suggested reducing the price for various plan combinations? If yes, what is the base price fixed for an unlimited Internet Connection by any Internet Service Provider? If no, is there any provision whereby TRAI can act on behalf of the customer to reduce the prices?

9) How has the tariff on unlimited broadband (1Mbps unlimited) being offered by Bharti Airtel fixed line been calculated?

I would be highly grateful if the above-mentioned information could be provided to me at my postal address within the statutory period of 30 days from the date of receipt of this application.

The requisite fee is being paid along with this application by way of postal order in favour of the accounts officer.

Should there be any additional fees chargeable as per the Act; the same may be communicated to me by e-mail or postal address with the required work up of the details as to how the increased charges are justified and how you have arrived at the calculation of the same.

Please rush the information to me by speed/registered post. If the information is not with you, please forward this application to appropriate PIO, under intimation to me. Please also provide me file notings and action taken report on this application along with your reply.

I sent them today with “Acknowledgement Due” from a post office with the requisite proof of having sent them the postal order. To my knowledge, they cannot feign ignorance; I would be following this up on a regular basis.

Here’s to the power of the people! I am bracing up for a big fight for sure.

3G India: Who needs it?

Published on 08th Nov 2009 in Indian Telecom. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , .

The following is the text of the email sent and an edited version appeared in Business Standard on 06/11/2009.

Dear Sir,

This refers to Shyam Ponnapa’s write up on BS dated 05/110/2009 (Managing Spectrum Efficiently).

The big question. Why do we need 3G? Why not focus on the land line business alone for broadband access? Or better still. Community Wifi?

The arguments for doing away with this are many. Community Wifi is deemed to be a security risk but then countries like Singapore have implemented this on a large scale nationwide. The mobile phones required to access 3G invariably have Wifi access too. Unless, the telecom companies are expecting surefire hits like Apple iPhones or flood of other smart phones to access the Internet, it is not happening.

We don’t have accurate numbers about the likes of Reliance and Tata who are offering their 3G access. If initial reports are to be believed, they are plagued by “line of sight” hassles, ‘network congestion’ and lackluster customer support. To top it all, it has the access limitations which means that broadband access, even on the 3G spectrum would be capped for very obvious reasons.

We have enough bandwidth in the country but as anyone would testify, we have problems in implementing the “last mile access”; having a contentious set of issues like 3G is not going to solve the persistent problem of “last mile access” because no one is interested in sinking money for a long term.

We can have a fair idea from the existing companies like Airtel or Vodafone who charge exorbitant rates under the present implementation of “mobile internet”. What is the guarantee that they would lower down the prices once they pay fancy sticker prices in 3G auction?

3G, would most likely be used for carrying more voice traffic because none of the players harbours any disillusionment about the “mobile broadband” across the length and breadth of the country.
The market for value added services is locked up within the “walled garden” of the existing players; it is unlikely that 3G access would “revolutionize” the content.

This pretty much sums up what I have always alluded here and my opposition to 3G remains.

Fight against Vodafone India: Sweet victory

Published on 25th Oct 2009 in General Thoughts, Indian Telecom, Other Frustrated Customers, Personal Experiences and Vodafone Sucks. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , .

It was a big long drawn fight against Vodafone Essar India. I have documented this here, here and here. I want to fight for the next level of transparency in the sector because information is not flowing in freely and it is a big hassle to know about the status of the complaints.

I have already documented that each operator needs to file a compliance report with TRAI every quarter including the action taken on the same. I had to push the company to act based on the threats sent as I insisted that they be made public using RTI. It was a “threat” alone which did the trick.

Further, the nodal officer and the appellate authority system doesn’t seem to be working because they are company officials. Even though it is mandated that all complaints be addressed in a time bound manner, it doesn’t happen so. What is the way out?

Department of Telecom is going through it’s own hassles with CBI raids in connection with the huge telecom scam related to auction of spectrum. I don’t foresee anything coming out of it (nor it’s worth reporting here) because it is just political arm twisting. Those officials are useless anyway; in that case, DoT is out of question.

That only leaves us with the option of TRAI and the idea that it needs to be more proactive in enforcing it’s own regulations. This calls for a concerted action against the errant officials because the companies are focused only on customer acquisition and not customer retention. Mobile number portability MIGHT change the service scenario a bit but I am being cynical about it because the exit and the entry barriers would be unfair to customers; unless the ensuing events prove me wrong. The charges for plan migration have yet not been defined; we as customers should demand a “pro-customer” outlook and not whims and fancies of fat cats dictating terms to both Government and Media.

On a happy note, the network coverage in my premises has vastly improved in all areas of building making it a hassle free experience. It took time and effort but it was worth it.

In the process, I learnt about the bad corporate ways too. And recounted it all here :)

Update (27/10/2009):
I got a call from the Vodafone Network people asking me to send across a mail of “appreciation” for the “good work” that they have done!!

I countered that by asking them to send across the details of their CEO so that I could cc to them as well! Strange kind of assholes indeed!

Department of Telecom: 3G auctions in a mess

Published on 20th Jul 2008 in Telecom News. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , , .

DoT has allowed the global firms to try their luck for 3 G spectrum. The existing companies have a lot at stake and are crying foul for obvious reasons. This is different from TRAI’s “recommendations” that only the existing players be allowed to bid for the scarce spectrum.

It’s only going to benefit the dodos flashing their new gen Apple iPhones. Who needs a frigging wireless Internet which can work only in isolated pockets of the four metros? There are enough idiots rooting for the cause and I have a nagging feeling that the existing technologies have not been upgraded to benefit consumers instead. A big sloth, this industry relies on its own lethargy.

The auction is expected to fetch the existing Government crores of rupees which would be funneled in wasteful expenditure and of course line their own Swiss Bank accounts.

Broadband: For dummies

Published on 24th Jun 2008 in Broadband in India. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , .

This is a brilliant video to explain what Broadband can do. Strictly for dummies. Highly recommended for the morons in TRAI and Department of Telecom.

Virgin India Mobile: Launches legal

Published on 30th Mar 2008 in Indian Telecom, Mobiles, Tata Indicom and Telecom News. 3 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , .

Why would a company choose it’s name as “Virgin”; I have no clue. The unholy alliance between Tatas and Virgin came through and got a sanction from Department of Telecom. They are legally bound to stay together; unless Virgin decides to act funny and kick Tatas below the belt, literally.

I am opposed to the deal because it means that the telecom companies are entering the country via “brand tie ups”. What avoids AT&T or for that matter any other company buying undisclosed stock and shares and entering in the country in the name of brand building?

I have never liked the limeys and been always fearful of their intentions. This is reverse colonisation in the garb of globalisation. Instead of hailing this as the next big thing in Telecom industry, Tatas ought to be ashamed to have sold their “assets” for a fistful of pounds.

Virgin sucks. Their PR disasters are well known. They have not been able to issue a denial nor actively court the media. It wouldn’t be out of place to mention that unless they actively engage the bloggers (who are potential customers), they wouldn’t get their dues. Further, most of the Gen X generation would probably search Internet before they settle in for this service.

A company that cannot clarify it’s intentions before the launch cannot be relied on providing decent after sales service.

Virgn India Mobile: Grey areas

Published on 14th Mar 2008 in General Thoughts, Indian Telecom and Mobiles. 3 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , .

Mobile Virtual Network Operator or MVNO is a “backdoor” entry in Indian telecom. Indian laws don’t allow this at all. Yet, Virgin India “tied” up with Tata and leased out their spectrum (? perhaps) and advertised here. Tatas claim that this is just a rebranding exercise. The email from the PR department didn’t sound so.

It has been a fiasco. Tatas feel that they can roughshod over the existing laws and garner a share of suckers who feel that it’s cool to get paid for incoming calls. Bah! How naive can people get? I believe, that one has to pay something upfront to “activate this service”. In any case, this is only product differential they have in an increasingly crowded market. With the eminent launch of newer services, this segment of consumers would surely weigh in gimmicks like these to purchase.

Their offer of handsets sucks. Although, this is good news for those who swear by CDMA. Department of Telecom has referred this matter to TRAI to look in the legal aspects of having Virgin Mobile.