COAI-Reliance Jio issue: DoT asks Trai to define guidelines for network testing

The telecom department (DoT) has reportedly asked the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) to devise clear guidelines for network testing with specific parameters, amid the ongoing battle between Reliance Jio and incumbent telcos on points of inter-connection (PoIs).

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According to a PTI report, the telecom department has written to Trai for setting clear rules around mobile network testing. It has asked Trai to define scale, the duration of testing, address telecom network interconnection issue and matters pertaining to subscriber addition.

“All the issue raised by telcos like testing of network, interconnection, mobile number portability falls under the ambit of Trai. Therefore, the DoT has asked to frame clear norms to keep away dispute in the sector,” the source was quoted as saying by PTI.

Citing an official source, the report said that the department had sent a communication to the Trai even before the COAI had approached it. Interestingly, the report added that Trai executives had denied receiving any such communication from the telecom department.

Incumbent players Airtel, Vodafone, Idea have currently locked horns with Reliance Jio on the latter’s test services in the country. Incumbent telcos through their industry body COAI had earlier alleged that Jio was offering commercial services under the garb of network testing, and is trying to poach their customers with free data and voice offers and through MNP etc.

COAI had said that Jio under the garb of test was bypassing regulation features like interconnect usage charge.