TRAI moots active infrastructure sharing by telcos

New Delhi, Apr 11: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) today recommended infrastructure sharing of active, passive and backhaul networks by mobile operators on suo-moto basis, in view of the massive investments required to set up 3,30,000 towers by 2010 against the present 1,00,000 towers.

The authority also sought amendment in the license condition to allow active infrastructure sharing limited to antenna, feeder cable, Node B, Radio Access Network and transmission systems.

However, it has not favoured sharing of spectrum at this stage.

''Given the significance of infrastructure sharing, the authority has not only considered the issue of passive infrastructure sharing but has given the recommendation regarding active infrastructure sharing and backhaul on a suo-moto basis,'' an offiial statement said.

Considering the importance of backhaul sharing for mobile services in rural and far-flung areas, TRAI has recommended amendment in the license conditions to allow service providers to share their backhaul from Base Trans Receiver Station (BTS) to Base Station Controller (BSC).

It has noted that such a sharing is permitted on optical fibre as well as radio medium at certain 'nodes'.

However, no sharing of spectrum at Access Network side has been recommended. In order to provide level playing field and roll out opportunities to all the licensees, the authority has expanded the scope of financial incentive for passive infrastructure sharing in rural and far-flung remote areas.

Accordingly, it has recommended that all the licensees in any service areas should qualify for financial subvention schemes meant for rural areas though at reduced scale compared to the winner in the tender process of USOF Administration. The authority has also recognised the need to encourage use of non-conventional energy sources and has recommended to the DOT to finalise suitable schemes in consultation with the concerned Ministry so as to resolve the critical power availability issue.

The authority said it does not prefer any mandated passive infrastructure sharing but has required that the entire process should be transparent and non-discriminatory.

Taking the prevailing international practices into consideration it has opted for cooperative efforts amongst telecom service providers with least regulatory intervention.

According to TRAI, the licensees would be required to announce the details of existing as well as future infrastructure installations available for sharing by the other service providers on their website.

''The mode of commercial agreement has been left to the telecom service providers but the regulator has reserved the option of prescribing a standard commercial agreement format in future if the process of infrastructure sharing does not become a pattern of planning in the schemes of telecom service providers.'' TRAI sought conclusion of commercial agreements in four weeks time.

The regulator has sent out its recommendations to the Department of Telecommunications.

Highlighting the need for immediate identification of critical infrastructure sites, it recommended a Joint Working Group under the Chairmanship of the District Magistrate to take spot decisions.

The representatives of the telecom service providers, Municipal Corporation/local bodies and a representative of Military Land Control Wing, where necessary would be its members.

UNI