The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) released the amendment to ‘International Telecommunication Access to Essential Facilities at Cable Landing Stations Regulations, 2007’ and Consultation Paper on ‘Estimation of Access Facilitation Charges and Co-location Charges at Cable Landing Stations’ in New Delhi today.
Submarine Cables, a vital international telecommunication link between countries across the world, terminate in a country through cable landing stations. Access Facilitation Charges are the charges, which are payable by International Long Distance Operators/ Internet Service Providers to the owner of the cable landing station for leasing/ acquiring international bandwidth in a submarine cable.
TRAI had issued a consultation paper in March, 2012 for seeking comments on issues related to cost-based access facilitation charges and collocation charges. Based on the comments received from the stakeholders, the Authority has decided to amend the regulations making suitable provisions for specifying Access Facilitation Charges, Co-location Charges and other related charges like Cancellation Charges and Restoration Charges. Simultaneously, TRAI is also issuing a consultation paper on ‘Estimation of Access Facilitation Charges and Co-location Charges at Cable Landing Stations’.
TRAI has invited written comments of all the stake holders on the issues raised in this consultation paper by 6thNovember, 2012. Counter comments, if any, may be sent by 14th November 2012. The comments/ counter comments may be sent, preferably in electronic form at fn@trai.gov.in or trai.ifn@gmail.com.