NEW DELHI: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has recommended that the Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited should be authorized by the Department of Telecom to establish gateway immediately under sui generis category for satellite telephony using INMARSAT.

In Its recommendations, TRAI has suggested licensing at eight per cent of the AGR for these services.

It has also said that the request of BSNL for waiver of entry fee, processing fee, and PBG should be considered by the DoT.

At present, satellite phone services for land mobile are used primarily by the defence and paramilitary forces. TRAI feels there is urgent need for a state-of-the-art gateway catered to the defence and security forces in view of the retirement of some of the services of INMARSAT.

The recommendations came in response to a letter in this regard from DoT in December last year.

TRAI says it kept in view the security of the country while consulting various stakeholders before issuing its recommendations.