Take a look at all the news from the world of technology: Open AI to block access to tools for Chinese developers from July. Biden admin investigates Chinese firms in US for data security risks. India's telecom regulator issues new guidelines to tackle spam calls & messages. Watch in for more details!

India: Telecom regulator issues new guidelines to tackle spam calls & messages

The government has formed a panel of bureaucrats to suggest ways to alleviate financial pressures on the telecoms sector, a ministry source said on Tuesday, days after a court order that will push mobile carriers to pay overdue government levies and interest.

Mobile operators in India have been demanding support for a sector squeezed by a price war since late 2016 and by the high cost of using airwaves, culminating last week in that Supreme Court decision upholding a demand by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) for the nearly $13 billion it said was overdue.

A panel comprising senior civil servants will consider the industry's demands, such as the postponement of airwaves auction payments due for the 2020/21 and 2021/22, the source said.

The panel will also look at reducing airwave usage charges and the contribution levels for the government fund set up to ensure that telecoms services reach rural India in a non-discriminatory way, the source added.

Profits of Vodafone Idea and Bharti Airtel have been hit and some rivals have gone out of business since Reliance Industries' Jio Infocomm unleashed a fierce price war when it entered India's crowded telecoms market in 2016 with free calling and cut-price data.

Vodafone Idea previously said it would ask the federal government for relief on payments of at least $4 billion after the Supreme Court decision. Analysts had said the charges could force the company out of business.

Rival Bharti Airtel said it had approached the DoT to "seek clarity" on the amount it had to pay, adding that it has sought the government's support to deal with the "adverse outcome" of the court ruling.

It also postponed the release of quarterly earnings, which had been scheduled for Tuesday, to November&nbsp;14.

Shares in Vodafone Idea closed 8.3 per cent down while Bharti lost 3.5 per cent in a broader Mumbai market &lt;.NSEI&gt; that finished with a 1.4 per cent gain.

The government has formed a panel of bureaucrats to suggest ways to alleviate financial pressures on the telecoms sector, a ministry source said on Tuesday, days after a court order that will push mobile carriers to pay overdue government levies and interest.

The government has formed a panel of bureaucrats to suggest ways to alleviate financial pressures on the telecoms sector, a ministry source said on Tuesday, days after a court order that will push mobile carriers to pay overdue government levies and interest. Mobile operators in India have been demanding support for a sector squeezed by a price war since late 2016 and by the high cost of using airwaves, culminating last week in that Supreme Court decision upholding a demand by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) for the nearly $13 billion it said was overdue. A panel comprising senior civil servants will consider the industry's demands, such as the postponement of airwaves auction payments due for the 2020/21 and 2021/22, the source said. The panel will also look at reducing airwave usage charges and the contribution levels for the government fund set up to ensure that telecoms services reach rural India in a non-discriminatory way, the source added. Profits of Vodafone Idea and Bharti Airtel have been hit and some rivals have gone out of business since Reliance Industries' Jio Infocomm unleashed a fierce price war when it entered India's crowded telecoms market in 2016 with free calling and cut-price data. Vodafone Idea previously said it would ask the federal government for relief on payments of at least $4 billion after the Supreme Court decision. Analysts had said the charges could force the company out of business. Rival Bharti Airtel said it had approached the DoT to "seek clarity" on the amount it had to pay, adding that it has sought the government's support to deal with the "adverse outcome" of the court ruling. It also postponed the release of quarterly earnings, which had been scheduled for Tuesday, to November 14. Shares in Vodafone Idea closed 8.3 per cent down while Bharti lost 3.5 per cent in a broader Mumbai market <.NSEI> that finished with a 1.4 per cent gain.

Government forms panel to address telecoms woes: Report

New Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad Monday assumed charge at his Ministry and held a detailed discussion with senior officials and heads of telecom PSUs.

BJP MP Sanjay Dhotre, Minister of State for communications, also took charge at the Ministry.

Senior officials of Telecom Ministry and heads of state-owned telecom corporations -- Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd, Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd and Telecommunications Consultants India Ltd (TCIL) were also present on the occasion.

Prasad's stature in the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/vk-singh-takes-charge-as-minister-of-state-for-road-transport-and-highways-223834">Modi 2.0 government</a> has got bigger and he has regained the telecom ministry, adding it to his heavyweight portfolio of IT as well as Law and Justice.

In telecom, an industry which is in throes of financial distress but, at the same time, rolling up its sleeves for 5G play in the global arena, Prasad's top priorities will be to find ways and means to set the sector back to its growth trajectory.

High on agenda also will be nurturing the telecom PSUs - BSNL and MTNL - back to health, particularly given the recent challenge they faced in payment of staff salaries.

A four-time Rajya Sabha MP, Prasad, has in the past, played a key role in driving the momentum of Narendra Modi government's flagship programmes including Digital India and also led the charge on several initiatives to galvanise electronics and mobile handset manufacturing in the country.

Under his watch, the mobile phone and component manufacturing units in India increased to 268 in the last 3-4 years resulting in estimated employment for 6.7 lakh people (direct and indirect).&nbsp;

New Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad Monday assumed charge at his Ministry and held a detailed discussion with senior officials and heads of telecom PSUs. BJP MP Sanjay Dhotre, Minister of State for communications, also took charge at the Ministry.

New Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad Monday assumed charge at his Ministry and held a detailed discussion with senior officials and heads of telecom PSUs. BJP MP Sanjay Dhotre, Minister of State for communications, also took charge at the Ministry. Senior officials of Telecom Ministry and heads of state-owned telecom corporations -- Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd, Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd and Telecommunications Consultants India Ltd (TCIL) were also present on the occasion. Prasad's stature in the Modi 2.0 government has got bigger and he has regained the telecom ministry, adding it to his heavyweight portfolio of IT as well as Law and Justice. In telecom, an industry which is in throes of financial distress but, at the same time, rolling up its sleeves for 5G play in the global arena, Prasad's top priorities will be to find ways and means to set the sector back to its growth trajectory. High on agenda also will be nurturing the telecom PSUs - BSNL and MTNL - back to health, particularly given the recent challenge they faced in payment of staff salaries. A four-time Rajya Sabha MP, Prasad, has in the past, played a key role in driving the momentum of Narendra Modi government's flagship programmes including Digital India and also led the charge on several initiatives to galvanise electronics and mobile handset manufacturing in the country. Under his watch, the mobile phone and component manufacturing units in India increased to 268 in the last 3-4 years resulting in estimated employment for 6.7 lakh people (direct and indirect).

Ravi Shankar Prasad assumes charge at Telecom Ministry

telecom-ministry

Telecom Ministry, News on Telecom Ministry, stories on Telecom Ministry, articles on Telecom Ministry, Telecom Ministry stories at Wion, Telecom Ministry news, Telecom Ministry latest news