MANU/TRAI/0069/2020

Department/Board : Telecom Regulatory Authority of India

Press Release No. : 60/2020

Date : 20.08.2020

TRAI releases Consultation Paper on "Enabling Unbundling of Different Layers Through Differential Licensing"

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has today released a Consultation Paper on "Enabling Unbundling of Different Layers Through Differential Licensing".

2. The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) through its letter dated 8th May 2019, inter alia, informed that the National Digital Communications Policy (NDCP) 2018, under its 'Propel India' mission, envisages one of the strategies as 'Reforming the licensing and regulatory regime to catalyse Investments and Innovation and promote Ease of Doing Business'. Enabling unbundling of different layers (e.g., infrastructure, network, services, and application layer) through differential licensing is one of the action plans for fulfilling the aforementioned strategy. Through the said letter dated 8th May 2019, DoT, inter alia, requested TRAI to furnish recommendations on enabling unbundling of different layers through differential licensing, under the terms of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India Act, 1997, as amended.

3. Earlier, TRAI had sought inputs from stakeholders on the broad framework for unbundling of license through a Pre-consultation paper on "Enabling Unbundling of Different Layers Through Differential Licensing" dated 9th December 2019.

4. Based on the inputs received from the stakeholders on the Pre-Consultation Paper, international practices and internal analysis, a Consultation Paper on "Enabling Unbundling of Different Layers Through Differential Licensing" has been released. Written comments and counter-comments on the issues raised in the Consultation Paper are invited from the stakeholders by 17th September 2020 and 1st October 2020 respectively.

5. The comments may be sent, preferably in electronic form at advmn@trai.gov.in. For any clarification/information Shri S.T. Abbas, Advisor (Networks, Spectrum & Licensing), TRAI may be contacted at Telephone Number +91-11-23210481.

(S. K. Gupta)
Secretary, TRAI