In an order issued by&nbsp;Department of Telecommunications (DoT), India has asked all the internet service providers (ISPs) to block the file-sharing website WeTransfer.

A partial block is already in place. The order was issued in the "interest of national security or public interest".

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/covid-19-indias-cases-nearly-2-lakh-icmr-conducts-more-than-1-lakh-tests-302270">Also read:&nbsp;COVID 19: India's cases nearly 2 lakh; ICMR conducts more than 1 lakh tests</a>

While there is no specific reason mentioned in the order, dated May 18, the order does invoke a clause&nbsp;from conditions laid out for granting licences to ISPs.

The order has been issued under&nbsp;Licence Condition No. 7.12 of Chapter IX of the licence agreement, that states “In the interest of national security or public interest, the licensee shall block internet sites/uniform resource locators (URLs)/uniform resource identifiers (URIs) and/or individual subscribers, as identified and directed by the licensor from time to time.”

Under the agreement, the condition has to be agreed upon by all telecom and internet service providers in India.

"At this moment in time, WeTransfer seems to be blocked and unavailable in India," WeTransfer said in a blog post.

"We are working hard to understand the reasoning behind this block, as well as how to get it reverted as soon as possible."

Questions are being raised on this ban, as Vodafone customers are not being able to access the website, but few Airtel and broadband customers have been able to log in to their accounts. DoT has not issued a statement regarding this.

The ban has come at a time when majority Indians are working from home due to the nationwide lockdown imposed by the Indian government to contain the spread of novel coronavirus.

(With inputs from Reuters)

In an order issued by Department of Telecommunications (DoT), India has asked all the internet service providers (ISPs) to block the file-sharing website WeTransfer.

In an order issued by Department of Telecommunications (DoT), India has asked all the internet service providers (ISPs) to block the file-sharing website WeTransfer. A partial block is already in place. The order was issued in the "interest of national security or public interest". Also read: COVID 19: India's cases nearly 2 lakh; ICMR conducts more than 1 lakh tests While there is no specific reason mentioned in the order, dated May 18, the order does invoke a clause from conditions laid out for granting licences to ISPs. The order has been issued under Licence Condition No. 7.12 of Chapter IX of the licence agreement, that states “In the interest of national security or public interest, the licensee shall block internet sites/uniform resource locators (URLs)/uniform resource identifiers (URIs) and/or individual subscribers, as identified and directed by the licensor from time to time.” Under the agreement, the condition has to be agreed upon by all telecom and internet service providers in India. "At this moment in time, WeTransfer seems to be blocked and unavailable in India," WeTransfer said in a blog post. "We are working hard to understand the reasoning behind this block, as well as how to get it reverted as soon as possible." Questions are being raised on this ban, as Vodafone customers are not being able to access the website, but few Airtel and broadband customers have been able to log in to their accounts. DoT has not issued a statement regarding this. The ban has come at a time when majority Indians are working from home due to the nationwide lockdown imposed by the Indian government to contain the spread of novel coronavirus. (With inputs from Reuters)

India asks internet service providers to block WeTransfer citing national security

India's mobile phone users have been putting up with poor connectivity for a while now. Telecom companies have not been investing in mobile infrastructure.

They don't have the money to do it anymore. That's because they are faced with a huge financial crisis themselves.

They owe thousands of crores in dues and the Supreme Court of India breathing down their neck.

Last year, the court had ordered them to pay the dues in 3 months. But to date, an overwhelming majority of this money has not been recovered.

The government suggested self-assessment by telecom companies. It filed a petition saying that this is in the interest of crores of consumers in India.

In response, the Supreme Court has lashed out at Telecom firms. Today it said that re-evaluation of dues will not be allowed. The court was furious and it was visible in the scathing remarks.

“We won't tolerate this, every company is violating orders. They want to hoodwink us. If required, we will summon MDs of all the telecom companies. We will send then to jail from here. We will recuse ourselves if this is the government's attitude,” said Justice Arun Mishra.

The central conflict between the government and telecom firms is the assessment of dues.

Telecom operators must pay the licence fee and spectrum charges. In October last year, the Supreme Court ordered telcos to pay over Rs 90,000 crores.&nbsp;

That verdict dealt a crippling blow to an already bruised industry. After the order, Vodafone idea and Bharti airtel posted their highest-ever losses.

Those two companies along with Tata Teleservices Limited (TTSL) and Reliance Jio calculated a combined liability of about Rs 37000 crores based on self-assessment.

The department of telecommunications has pegged its dues at over Rs 1 lakh crores. The companies say, as per their own assessment, they've already paid the dues. But according to the govt's calculations, they've only paid about 35% of the dues.

The latest Supreme Court order means they will have to pay the full amount. All they can bargain for is time. 
 
Who owns how much

Company &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Self-assessment &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Govt calculation

 
Bharti Airtel &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Rs 13,004 cr&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Rs 43, 980 cr

Vodafone Idea &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Rs 21,533 cr&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Rs 58, 254 cr

Tata Tele &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Rs 2197 cr&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Rs 16, 798 cr 
&nbsp; 
TOTAL &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Rs 37000 cr (approx)&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Rs 1.19 lakh cr (approx)

India's mobile phone users have been putting up with poor connectivity for a while now. Telecom companies have not been investing in mobile infrastructure. They don't have the money to do it anymore.

India's mobile phone users have been putting up with poor connectivity for a while now. Telecom companies have not been investing in mobile infrastructure. They don't have the money to do it anymore. That's because they are faced with a huge financial crisis themselves. They owe thousands of crores in dues and the Supreme Court of India breathing down their neck. Last year, the court had ordered them to pay the dues in 3 months. But to date, an overwhelming majority of this money has not been recovered. The government suggested self-assessment by telecom companies. It filed a petition saying that this is in the interest of crores of consumers in India. In response, the Supreme Court has lashed out at Telecom firms. Today it said that re-evaluation of dues will not be allowed. The court was furious and it was visible in the scathing remarks. “We won't tolerate this, every company is violating orders. They want to hoodwink us. If required, we will summon MDs of all the telecom companies. We will send then to jail from here. We will recuse ourselves if this is the government's attitude,” said Justice Arun Mishra. The central conflict between the government and telecom firms is the assessment of dues. Telecom operators must pay the licence fee and spectrum charges. In October last year, the Supreme Court ordered telcos to pay over Rs 90,000 crores. That verdict dealt a crippling blow to an already bruised industry. After the order, Vodafone idea and Bharti airtel posted their highest-ever losses. Those two companies along with Tata Teleservices Limited (TTSL) and Reliance Jio calculated a combined liability of about Rs 37000 crores based on self-assessment. The department of telecommunications has pegged its dues at over Rs 1 lakh crores. The companies say, as per their own assessment, they've already paid the dues. But according to the govt's calculations, they've only paid about 35% of the dues. The latest Supreme Court order means they will have to pay the full amount. All they can bargain for is time. Who owns how much Company Self-assessment Govt calculation Bharti Airtel Rs 13,004 cr Rs 43, 980 cr Vodafone Idea Rs 21,533 cr Rs 58, 254 cr Tata Tele Rs 2197 cr Rs 16, 798 cr TOTAL Rs 37000 cr (approx) Rs 1.19 lakh cr (approx)

India's telecom crisis: Who owes how much

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) on Monday moved the Supreme Court (SC) in the adjusted gross revenue (AGR) case, seeking staggered payment over 20 years by telecom companies. Telecom companies will be charged an 8 per cent interest on the staggered payments, a report said.

This payment mechanism would give the cash-strapped Vodafone Idea a fighting chance to survive. Reports say Vodafone Idea on Monday made an additional payment of Rs 3,354 crore towards AGR to the DoT. With this, Vodafone Idea had paid Rs 6,854 to the government.

The DoT said the formula for the recovery dues was created after detailed deliberations by the government and the Cabinet. The DoT has sought the apex court's approval for the formula.

The DoT had earlier said it would reassess the documents submitted by Bharti Airtel, Vodafone Idea, and Tata Teleservices, as part of the companies’ self-assessment of AGR dues.

AGR includes rental receipts, dividend income and income from any other-activity arising out of the telecom licence the company has. Vodafone Idea is staring at dues worth over Rs 50,000 crore.

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) on Monday moved the Supreme Court (SC) in the adjusted gross revenue (AGR) case, seeking staggered payment over 20 years by telecom companies.

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) on Monday moved the Supreme Court (SC) in the adjusted gross revenue (AGR) case, seeking staggered payment over 20 years by telecom companies. Telecom companies will be charged an 8 per cent interest on the staggered payments, a report said. This payment mechanism would give the cash-strapped Vodafone Idea a fighting chance to survive. Reports say Vodafone Idea on Monday made an additional payment of Rs 3,354 crore towards AGR to the DoT. With this, Vodafone Idea had paid Rs 6,854 to the government. The DoT said the formula for the recovery dues was created after detailed deliberations by the government and the Cabinet. The DoT has sought the apex court's approval for the formula. The DoT had earlier said it would reassess the documents submitted by Bharti Airtel, Vodafone Idea, and Tata Teleservices, as part of the companies’ self-assessment of AGR dues. AGR includes rental receipts, dividend income and income from any other-activity arising out of the telecom licence the company has. Vodafone Idea is staring at dues worth over Rs 50,000 crore.

DoT asks Supreme Court to allow telecom companies 20-year period to pay AGR dues

Chinese equipment provider Huawei has proposed to sign an agreement, including "no back door", with the Indian government to allay any security concerns it may have regarding its network equipment. The company is facing heat in the Indian market following the ban of Huawei in the US market, which has been followed by Australia and Japan. However, some countries are yet to take a decision.

Huawei ready for 'no back door' pact