TRAI mandates interconnection for intelligent network services among all telecom service providers

MUMBAI: Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) today issued a Regulation on Interconnection amongst all telecom service providers for Intelligent Network (IN) Services. This Regulation would ensure that specified innovative services made available through IN will not be restricted to the telecom service providers who have deployed the Intelligent Network platform but now also be available to subscribers of other operators.

Consumers are today offered a number of innovative services made available through Intelligent Network (IN) deployed by telecom service providers in their network. Free phone or Toll Free Number, Virtual Calling Card (VCC) for long distance calls, are some of the popular examples of services offered through IN platforms. Some of the telecom service providers in the country have already started offering IN services for their subscribers. In the existing multi-service multi operator environment these services can only be accessed by subscribers of a specific service provider and are not available to the subscribers of other service providers.

To enable the subscribers of different service providers to access the IN services of other service providers, TRAI had set up an Expert Group to handle the technical and regulatory issues pertaining to this. Based on the recommendations of the Group, a Draft Regulation was launched on website on 30.10.2005 for comments of stakeholders. The IN Regulation taking into consideration various comments/ suggestions received from the various stakeholders has now been finalised and issued.

The regulation mandates all service providers to provide interconnection to all eligible service providers so that subscribers of all Access Providers will have a choice of using the IN services of other service providers. This regulation will enable all telecom consumers in the country to have access to Multi-operator Multi-service IN platforms and no operator will be permitted to block his consumers from accessing IN platform belonging to other service providers. Service providers are required to enter into the necessary commercial and technical agreements for the same within three months. The technical architecture and mutual revenue share among service providers has to be mutually decided upon based on the principles of Reciprocity and Non-discrimination. Also the various service providers have to comply with the various provisions and Access Code allocated as per the National Numbering Plan.

The Regulation has been finalised after extensive consultation with all telecom service providers and, therefore, it should have smooth implementation.

The Regulation is available on TRAI’s Website (www.trai.gov.in)