TRAI Proposes Lower Fees, Reforms for DTH and Radio Services

24 Feb 2025 CW Team

As part of its new framework under the Telecommunications Act, 2023, TRAI called for voluntary infrastructure sharing among broadcasters and telecom operators and proposed interoperability of set-top boxes (STBs) to enhance consumer choice. It also recommended scrapping the Rs 1 billion minimum net worth requirement for internet protocol TV (IPTV) service providers.

TRAI suggested that the Centre grant service authorisations under Section 3(1)(a) of the Telecommunications Act, replacing the current licensing system. Existing licence holders in the broadcast and radio sectors can voluntarily migrate to the new regime without entry or processing fees, though their authorisation period will start from the migration date.

The Telecommunication Engineering Centre (TEC) under the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) will set standards for interoperable STBs and TV sets with built-in STB functionality. TRAI also proposed two new services — Ground-based Broadcasting of a Television Channel and Low Power Small Range Radio Service.

For radio broadcasting, TRAI recommended a technology-agnostic approach to support digital adoption. It proposed allowing radio operators to obtain terrestrial service authorisation without the current requirement for spectrum auction. Authorised terrestrial radio services should also be permitted to stream content online simultaneously.

TRAI suggested standardising the radio broadcasting authorisation fee at 4% of AGR across all cities, with a reduced rate of 2% for specified regions for the first three years. The authorisation period will now be renewable every 10 years, a provision not available earlier.

(Business Standard)

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has recommended reducing the authorisation fee for direct-to-home (DTH) service operators from the current 8% to 3% of adjusted gross revenue (AGR), with plans to eliminate the fee entirely after 2026-27. It also suggested lowering the bank guarantee for DTH services to ?5 crore or 20% of the authorisation fee for two quarters, whichever is higher. As part of its new framework under the Telecommunications Act, 2023, TRAI called for voluntary infrastructure sharing among broadcasters and telecom operators and proposed interoperability of set-top boxes (STBs) to enhance consumer choice. It also recommended scrapping the Rs 1 billion minimum net worth requirement for internet protocol TV (IPTV) service providers. TRAI suggested that the Centre grant service authorisations under Section 3(1)(a) of the Telecommunications Act, replacing the current licensing system. Existing licence holders in the broadcast and radio sectors can voluntarily migrate to the new regime without entry or processing fees, though their authorisation period will start from the migration date. The Telecommunication Engineering Centre (TEC) under the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) will set standards for interoperable STBs and TV sets with built-in STB functionality. TRAI also proposed two new services — Ground-based Broadcasting of a Television Channel and Low Power Small Range Radio Service. For radio broadcasting, TRAI recommended a technology-agnostic approach to support digital adoption. It proposed allowing radio operators to obtain terrestrial service authorisation without the current requirement for spectrum auction. Authorised terrestrial radio services should also be permitted to stream content online simultaneously. TRAI suggested standardising the radio broadcasting authorisation fee at 4% of AGR across all cities, with a reduced rate of 2% for specified regions for the first three years. The authorisation period will now be renewable every 10 years, a provision not available earlier. (Business Standard)

Infrastructure Urban

11 Mar 2026

India Expands Semiconductor Training To 500 Institutions

Under the Chips to Startups programme of the India Semiconductor Mission, the Union minister responsible for Railways, Information and Broadcasting, and Electronics and IT reported notable progress in talent development. He indicated that over the past four years substantial steps have been taken towards a 10-year target of training 85,000 engineers in semiconductor design. World-class EDA tools have been deployed in 315 academic institutions across the country to provide students with practical exposure to chip design. These EDA tools are supported by leading global firms and are accessible t..

Infrastructure Urban

11 Mar 2026

Delhi Institutions Support India Semiconductor Mission

The Government of India has prioritised talent development through training, upskilling and workforce development under the Chips to Startups initiative of the India Semiconductor Mission, with officials noting progress in four years towards a 10-year target of training 85,000 engineers in semiconductor design. Electronic design automation tools provided by Synopsys, Cadence, Siemens, Renesas, Ansys and AMD have been deployed in 315 academic institutions, enabling students to gain practical chip design experience. Chips have been fabricated and tested at the Semiconductor Laboratory, Mohali, a..

Infrastructure Urban

11 Mar 2026

NHA Announces Winners Of NHCX Hackathon At IIT Hyderabad

The National Health Authority (NHA) has concluded the NHCX Hackathon under the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) to stimulate innovation around the National Health Claims Exchange (NHCX). The winning teams presented their solutions at the NHCX Innovation Meet held at IIT Hyderabad during a two-day event in March 2026 that also served as the hackathon grand finale. The hackathon itself ran from 22 to 28 February 2026 and aimed to accelerate paperless, transparent claims processing across India. The event was organised with a range of ecosystem partners, including the Insurance Regulatory a..