MANU/TRAI/0009/2018

Department/Board : Telecom Regulatory Authority of India

Press Release No. : 08/2018

Date : 19.01.2018

TRAI releases Recommendations on 'In-Flight Connectivity'

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has on 18th January 2018 issued its Recommendations on In-Flight Connectivity'.

2. The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) through its letter dated 10th August 2017 had communicated that there is a proposal to introduce In-Flight Connectivity (IFC) for voice, data and video services over Indian airspace for domestic, international and overflying flights in Indian Air Space. DoT had also requested TRAI to furnish its recommendations on licensing terms and conditions for provision of IFC for voice, data and video services and associated issues such as entry fee, license fee, spectrum related issues including usage charges and method of allocation and other conditions.

3. In this regard, a Consultation Paper on 'In-Flight Connectivity' was released on 29th September 2017 seeking comments of stakeholders. An OHD on the issues concerned was held on 27th November 2017.

4. After analysing the comments received from stakeholders during the consultation and the open house discussions, TRAI has finalized its recommendation on 'In-Flight Connectivity'. The highlights of the recommendations are as follows:

a) Both, Internet and MCA service should be permitted as In-Flight Connectivity (IFC) in the Indian airspace.

b) The operation of MCA services should be permitted with minimum height restriction of 3000 meters in Indian airspace for its compatibility with terrestrial mobile networks.

c) Internet Services through Wi-Fi onboard should be made available when electronic devices are permitted to use only in flight/airplane mode.

d) A separate category of "IFC Service Provider" should be created to permit IFC services in Indian airspace. The IFC service provider should be required to get itself registered with the DoT and it need not necessarily be in Indian entity.

e) The IFC service provider be permitted to provide IFC services, after entering into an arrangement with Unified Licensee having appropriate authorization.