DoT new guidelines pave way for full Internet telephony
ISPs with BWA spectrum can offer mobile telephony service by paying an extra fee of `1,658.57 crore
New Delhi: The department of telecommunications (DoT) has issued long-awaited migration guidelines that pave way for Internet service providers (ISP) such as Reliance Jio Infocomm and Tikona, which have BWA spectrum, to offer mobile telephony service by paying an extra fee of ₹ 1,658.57 crore.
According to the guidelines, “for migration of ISPs with BWA spectrum to unified licence" for offering voice call services, “an additional fee equal to the difference between the entry fee for UASL" (old licences) would have to be paid.
The additional fee payable by companies, that own wireless broadband spectrum (BWA) being used for 4G services but have ISP licence, comes out to be ₹ 1,658.57 crore excluding fees payable for pan-India unified licences, according to the guidelines.
Reliance Jio Infocomm Ltd and Bharti Airtel Ltd’s subsidiary Wireless Business Services are already in the process of testing Internet-based calls on mobile networks.
The government had put in place new unified licence (UL) regime earlier this month with an aim to free players from limitations on use of technology for services and allow them to take benefits under the new sectoral policy.
All telecom service providers will have to gradually move to ULs after expiry of their licences for continuing services.
Government has also given option to existing players to migrate to UL before expiry of their licence where there the fee for remaining duration of their permit will be adjusted.
Telecom operators will have to migrate to UL from their existing licence if they want to take benefit under new licensing regime like spectrum sharing or looking to acquire another service provider.
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