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TRAI to work out Internet tariff

A bigger role for TRAI in the management of Internet service providers and bank guarantee systems proposed, by the Department of Telecommunications, is part of the guidelines in the Internet policy.

T O D A Y

• Money out of friends! • TRAI to set Net tariff • VSNL strategy • NASSCOM delighted

In the 15-year licence period, the service providers are not required to pay any fee for the first five years and a Re 1 per year fee is proposed thereafter.

Without additional licencing, a cable television operator can become an Internet service provider either by directly hooking to Earth stations through a VSAT or to the local nodes by a wired connection.

Internet service providers can provide connection to VSAT operators too, an official said.

The guidelines also provide for local call tariff for access to Internet nodes until they are set up in all local charging areas, the official said.

Internet terminology would be brought under the purview of the contentious Telegraph Act, 1888, on the insistence of the Prime Minister's Task Force for Information Technology.

DoT's proposal of classifying Internet service providers as national, regional and local, forms a part of the guidelines. DoT has further proposed a compulsory bank guarantee of Rs 20 million for a national provider with an international gateway, Rs 2 million for a regional provider and Rs 300,000 for a local provider.

Any Internet service providers can set up his own international gateway including that of international leased line circuit, thereby abolishing the monopoly of Videsh Sanchar Nigam Limited, officials said.

For the spread of Internet into far-flung areas, defence services would be allowed to offer Internet service to civilians.

Earlier:

We have run out of headlines
Finally. After several announcements, reports and headlines, the Net business has been thrown open to the private sector.

- Compiled from the Indian media

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