The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has announced important recommendations regarding the way Virtual Network Operators (VNOs) connect with Network Service Operators (NSOs). This new step is expected to improve the quality of telecom services across India, giving more flexibility to VNOs in how they offer services to customers.
What is the New Recommendation?
In July 2023, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) asked TRAI to give recommendations on how Access Service VNOs can connect to more than one NSO. VNOs are companies that provide telecom services to customers but use the network of other companies, called NSOs, to deliver these services.
VNOs have been operating in India since 2016, allowing them to offer services like phone calls, internet, and messaging by partnering with NSOs. But, up until now, VNOs were only allowed to connect to more than one NSO for certain services. For Access Services, such as phone calls that need a unique customer number, VNOs could only partner with one NSO in a specific area.
TRAI now recommends removing this restriction. They believe that Access Service VNOs should be allowed to connect with more than one NSO in each Licensed Service Area (LSA). This would be for both wireline services (such as landline phones) and wireless services (such as mobile phones).
Benefits of the New Rule
TRAI’s recommendations will bring many benefits to both telecom companies and customers:
- Better Quality of Service: By allowing VNOs to connect with multiple NSOs, customers will likely see better phone and internet services, especially for landline connections. VNOs can choose the best network for different services, improving their service offerings.
- More Flexibility: VNOs can now choose different NSOs for wireless and wireline services in the same area. For example, a VNO can use one NSO for mobile services and another NSO for landline services, allowing them to create better packages for consumers.
- Customer Satisfaction: With these changes, customers can expect improved service quality and more choices in telecom plans, making it easier for them to find a plan that fits their needs.
The Consultation Process
TRAI made these recommendations after a thorough consultation process. They released a Consultation Paper in February 2024 to gather opinions from various stakeholders, including telecom companies and other industry experts. TRAI received comments from nine stakeholders and held an Open House Discussion in May 2024 to discuss these views in detail.
After analyzing the feedback, TRAI finalized its recommendations, which aim to help VNOs provide more competitive and high-quality telecom services in India.
Moving Forward
With the implementation of these recommendations, telecom consumers in India could soon benefit from improved service quality and more options when choosing their telecom provider. By allowing VNOs to connect with multiple NSOs, TRAI hopes to strengthen the telecom sector and promote better services nationwide.
For more detailed information on TRAI’s recommendations, you can visit the official TRAI website.
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