April ’99

TRAI Puts on Hold Tariff Order

The new TRAI tariff plan, Telecom Tariff Order 1999, which is supposed to be implemented by 1 April 1999 is put on
hold. It is held back till the Government considers the entire issue. The Government invokes Section 25 of TRAI Act 1977 for the abeyance.

AP Goes for Videoconferencing Network

The chief minister of Andhra Pradesh (AP) chalks out a plan to videoconference 26 locations of the AP Government with the chief minister’s office. This order by Andhra Pradesh Technology Services Ltd is obtained by
Siemens Ltd.

May ’99

ICICI Decides on Knowledge Park in AP

ICICI plans setting up of a knowledge park in AP with cooperation with AP Government. This park is to come up adjacent to the biotechnology park. It is to work in tandem with the latter in developing scientific ideas, doing market-oriented research activities, besides being a one-stop service centre.

TRAI Tariff Order Accepted

The Government decides not to raise the charges of rentals or calls, particularly in rural and some urban areas as notified in the TRAI order.

DoT, Army Connect Leh to Srinagar

The Telecom Commission approves a proposal for commissioning of an optical fibre cable from Srinagar to Leh. This project is to executed jointly by the DoT and the Indian Army.

August ’99

Revenue-sharing Formula Faces Opposition

Government’s revenue-sharing formula faces opposition from Election Commission and Delhi High Court. The opposition parties file Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the Delhi High Court to this effect.

TRAI Recommendations for Paging Service Providers

TRAI in its recommendations to the Government on licence fee structure for radio paging service providers in cities, approves five percent revenue sharing of the network revenue as the quantum of licence fee from fourth year onwards.

DoT Permits Call Centres

DoT decides on establishment of call centres by different organizations.

Kargil Increases Satphone Demand

Kargil fuels satphone sales as 80 of them are sold in the country. Inmarsat sells 50 while Iridium touches 30.

September ’99

TRAI’s Recommendations on DLD

TRAI plans to give its recommendations on opening up of domestic long distance (DLD).

MAIT Proposes IT Demand Generation Strategy

Manufacturers’ Association for Information Technology (MAIT) outlines IT demand generation strategy. It strongly demands the implementation of IT Action Plan II.

October ’99

TRAI Clips MTNL’s WILL Wings

Justice SS Sodhi, chairman, TRAI approves MTNL’s tariff request for fixed-line service using wireless in local loop (WILL). This option is only for fixed-line telephony and cannot be used for providing what is termed as "limited mobility".

TRAI Announces CPP Implementation

TRAI says Calling Party Pays (CPP) regime for cell phone services is to be implemented from 1 November 1999.

Paging Operators Taken to Task

TRAI prohibits paging operators from collecting Wireless Planning Cell (WPC) charges from customers. These are payments for using the frequency spectrum, paid in addition to licence fee.

Telecom Body for IT-enabled Services

The Telecom Commission decides on a "Telecom Group on Information Technology Enabled Services" to give recommendations on registration policy for Other Services Providers (OSP).

November ’99

Consultation Paper on USO

TRAI plans a consultation paper on Universal Service Obligations (USO) in January 2000. This is introduced as a fund that will be used to subsidize telecom operations in less attractive services and areas.

TRAI, MTNL Disagree

TRAI issues showcase notice to MTNL. This follows MTNL’s launch of its mobile services without getting the tariff approved by the former.

January 2000

Subash Chandra’s Global Aspirations

Subash Chandra of Essel Group plans to pump in Rs 825 crore to bail out ICO Global from bankruptcy clause under the US Bankruptcy Court. Chandra and Craig McCaw commit to provide up to 38 percent and 62 percent respectively of the equity funding required by ICO to exit from bankruptcy.

TRAI’s Consultancy Paper on Cellular Mobile

TRAI issues a consultation paper on cellular mobile. It is to focus on determination of licence fees for metro and circles cellular mobile service projects for a 20-year licence tenure.

February 2000

WILL for Rural Communications

Tapan Sikdar, minister of state for communications presents report of the Committee of Rural Communications to Ram Vilas Paswan, the minister of communications. The report recommends WILL for rural communications. The committee was set up to look into problems of development and operation of rural telecom especially Village Public Telephones (VPTs).

MS Verma Heads Reconstituted TRAl

MS Verma, the former chairman of SBI, is to be the new chairman of reconstituted TRAI. RRN Prasad stays while all others are dumped. The new names include Ravi Kant of CBDT, Rakesh Mohan of NCAER, and N Seshagiri of NIC.

March 2000

Shyamal Ghosh is Secretary, DoT

Shyamal Ghosh takes over as secretary of DoT.

Government Proposes Freedom of Information Law

In its bid to be more transparent and open, Government decides on a proposed Freedom of Information Law. It is to be called Freedom of Information Bill.

Its features include right to inspect, make copies and obtain certified copies, statutory obligation on the Public Information Officer (PIO) to draft application for information if the application is illiterate or does not know how to frame such an application.