Kolkata: Expressing serious concern over persisting problems in inter-connectivity between operators, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) on Friday urged state-owned BSNL to cooperate by setting up inter-connect exchanges in state capitals across the country.
TRAI chairman Nripendra Mishra said that inter-connectivity has been a major problem with operators.
Mishra said that TRAI had not been able to enforce inter-connectivity since the law was very weak.
He said that by being the biggest telecom operator in the country, BSNL has a role to play in providing inter-connectivity to private operators. This, he said, would be required to meet the target of achieving 50 crore lines by 2010.
Mishra, who assumed charge as TRAI chairman on March 2006, said that the regulatory body was also preparing its recommendations on 3G spectrum policy to the government.
He said that TRAI is expected to submit them by September 30, 2006.
Mishra said that the telecom industry was also in the process of appointing an ombudsman who would look into the complaints of consumers.
He said that the guidelines for the functioning of the ombudsman would be framed by Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) and Association of Unified Service Providers of India (AUSPI).
Mishra said that neither the telecom department nor the regulator would have any role in the appointment of the ombudsman, adding that funding of the post would have to have to be provided by the industry.
He said that it is expected that the ombudsman appointment would be made within six weeks.
On rural telephony, he said that the Universal Service Obligation (USO) fund would have to be utilised to meet the objective.
Saying that with convergence emerging as an important issue in the coming days, Mishra said that it is expected that TRAI's role would not get diluted in future.
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