The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has issued the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India Repealing Regulations, 2023 (02 of 2023) on July 25, 2023, to repeal the Regulation on quality of service of dial-up and leased line internet access service, 2001 (4 of 2001), according to the official statement.
Also Read: TRAI Releases Consultation Paper on Regulatory Framework for OTT Services and Selective Banning
Outdated Regulation Repealed
TRAI stated that the 2001 regulation was initially introduced to ensure customer satisfaction and set norms for network performance by service providers, including Basic Service Operators and Internet Service Providers. It applied to leading operators like BSNL, MTNL, and VSNL to monitor the level of performance delivered by various service providers and safeguard the interests of internet subscribers.
Evolving Telecommunications Landscape
However, the telecommunications landscape has significantly evolved since the Regulation's inception, with the introduction of high-speed broadband services using advanced technologies like xDSL, FTTH, LTE, and 5G. Dial-up service, which the Regulation primarily focused on, has become obsolete in the face of these technological advancements, said TRAI.
Also Read: TRAI Issues Recommendations on Submarine Cable Landing Licensing Framework in India
Additionally, Internet Gateway Service Providers (IGSPs) are now primarily offering leased line access services under Service Level Agreements (SLAs) to enterprises. These SLAs have provisions to ensure service quality, making the 2001 regulation redundant in the present context, stated TRAI.
In response to the changing industry dynamics, TRAI said it previously released the draft Telecom Regulatory Authority of India Repealing Regulations, 2023, on April 03, 2023. The draft invited feedback from stakeholders until April 17, 2023, to ensure comprehensive input from the industry players.
Also Read: TRAI Releases Recommendations on Ease of Doing Business in Telecom and Broadcasting Sector
Emphasis on Ease of Doing Business
Accordingly, TRAI said it has decided to repeal the Regulation on the quality of service of dial-up and leased line internet access service, 2001 (4 of 2001) after carefully considering the comments of stakeholders and taking into account the importance of Ease of Doing Business (EoDB) in the sector.
This decision is expected to streamline the regulatory environment and facilitate the deployment of cutting-edge technologies and high-speed broadband services across India.
