Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) Chairman Rahul Khullar has hinted at an increase in price of telephone and television broadcast services, saying rates cannot remain static for ever.
"The idea... to live in luxurious world where prices will remain static for ever and ever... this is a pipedream which we have got to get rid of," Khullar said at India Telecom 2013 while talking about convergence.
The chairman was talking about convergence of telecom and broadcast network where customers will be able to access video services besides making calls and using internet through common devices specially mobile phone.
Khullar said that modernised networks to support convergence will call for investments.
Citing example of transformation in cable network that will require transformation to provide cable TV as well as broadband services, Khullar said: "Its not the same old cable network that can do it for us. As convergence proceeds, it will be contingent on the flow of capital. As it is contingent on the flow of capital, there has to be pay back. It means customers have to pay for every thing," he said.
Department of Telecom and Ministry of Information and Broadcasting have started working on a fresh convergence bill where they are learnt to be working out details of the network rather than looking at content.
For setting up any TV or radio channel, a company is required to take permission from both I&B Ministry and DoT.
While broadcasting licences are governed by I&B ministry, airwaves required for broadcasting are allocated by Wireless Planning Commission under DoT.
Khullar said as the network will converge their security will become very important issue and quality of service parameters will also have to change.
He called for convergence in the functioning of DoT and I&B Ministry to speed up process of convergence.
"The idea... to live in luxurious world where prices will remain static for ever and ever... this is a pipedream which we have got to get rid of," Khullar said at India Telecom 2013 while talking about convergence.
The chairman was talking about convergence of telecom and broadcast network where customers will be able to access video services besides making calls and using internet through common devices specially mobile phone.
Khullar said that modernised networks to support convergence will call for investments.
Citing example of transformation in cable network that will require transformation to provide cable TV as well as broadband services, Khullar said: "Its not the same old cable network that can do it for us. As convergence proceeds, it will be contingent on the flow of capital. As it is contingent on the flow of capital, there has to be pay back. It means customers have to pay for every thing," he said.
Department of Telecom and Ministry of Information and Broadcasting have started working on a fresh convergence bill where they are learnt to be working out details of the network rather than looking at content.
For setting up any TV or radio channel, a company is required to take permission from both I&B Ministry and DoT.
While broadcasting licences are governed by I&B ministry, airwaves required for broadcasting are allocated by Wireless Planning Commission under DoT.
Khullar said as the network will converge their security will become very important issue and quality of service parameters will also have to change.
He called for convergence in the functioning of DoT and I&B Ministry to speed up process of convergence.
