The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) on September 19, 2023, released recommendations on "Rationalization of Entry Fee and Bank Guarantees".
The following has been stated: -
•The salient features of the recommendations are as follows: -
(i)The entry fee should be reduced from the present levels for Unified License (UL) as well as Unified License (Virtual Network Operator) (UL (VNO)) licenses.
(ii)No entry fee for M2M ("A"/ "B"/ "C"), Audio conferencing/ Audiotex/ Voice mail service, ISP "C" recommended.
(iii)Entry fee for the following UL authorizations should be rationalized: a) Access service: from Rs 1 crore to Rs 50 Lakh for each telecom circle/ metro area; from 0.5 crore to 25 lakhs for J&K and Northeast each.
b) NLD and ILD: from Rs 2.5 crore to Rs 50 lakh.
c) PMRTS: from Rs. 50 thousand to Rs. 20 thousand for each telecom circle/ metro area.
•The entry fee for UL (VNO) authorizations was reduced substantially to promote competition and improve the provision of services.
•There should be no entry fee at the time of renewal of licenses.
•Similarly, for the Mobile Number Portability license, FBG and PBG should be merged into a single Bank Guarantee.
• To enhance the ease of doing business, the process for submission of electronic bank guarantee (eBG) should be adopted.
The detailed notification is given in the document attached below.
URL: https://www.trai.gov.in/sites/default/files/Recommendation_19092023_0.pdf
[(Press Release No. 88/2023)]
