S S Sodhi, chairman of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), yesterday hinted that the regulator would come out with strict guidelines separating the scope of operations of players offering wireless in local loop (WLL) services and cellular telecom services. Sodhi was speaking at the inaugural session of the three-day WLL India Congress `98.
Private basic telecom operators and the department of telecommunications (DoT), which are adopting WLL telecom systems, are offering subscribers limited mobility within their licensed service area. This, cellular operators allege, is a violation of licence conditions since WLL systems offer a service which eats into their market.
For instance, when Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd (MTNL) introduced a WLL system in Delhi, there were several takers for the service. The system_based on the code division multiple access (CDMA), and emerging technology_is being adopted by private basic telecom operators too.
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WLL telecom equipment relies on wireless technologies to link telephones to the closest telephone exchange and eliminates the need to draw wires or cables to a subscriber's premises from the exchange. Basic telecom operators are opting for such systems because of easy installation and low deployment time.
TRAI is also planning to examine whether frequency spectrum pricing falls under its jurisdiction.
The pricing of the frequency spectrum is governed by the licensing policy, informed Harsha Vardhana Singh, economic adviser, TRAI. Although spectrum-related issues do not expressly fall within TRAI's jurisdiction, Viswanathan argued that if a WLL operator was included in the definition of service provider, the regulator had the jurisdiction to ensure technical compatibility between WLL operators.
Sodhi also emphasised on quality service and customer satisfaction. He added one could not talk of quality service without taking note of what the latest technology had to offer. "WLL assumes significance with regard to network penetration in rural areas," he said and added that according to a study, the STD facility in rural areas made WLL network commercially viable.
On the telecom pricing proposed recently by TRAI, Singh said formal responses were still coming in. "TRAI would wait till October 7 for such responses, following which it would discuss the issue in various parts of India. The final draft would depend on these responses," he said.
Sunil B Mittal, chairman and group managing director of Bhrati Enterprises, said the main goal among operators _ both state-owned and private _ should be to increase teledensity, which currently stood at 1.7. "It is sad that the prices of WLL networks have not been driven down in spite of many players in the field, and this could be a major constraint for the basic service providers...," he said