Telecom Commission clears connectivity in flights, creation of ombudsman & internet telephony

The Telecom Commission Tuesday approved the telecom regulator’s recommendations for offering voice and data services in flights within Indian airspace.

The highest decision making body of the telecom ministry also approved another consumer benefitting initiative of creating a telecom Ombudsman under Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai), for which it will also amend the Trai Act. This will give powers to Trai to take decisions on consumer complaints and possibly penalize telcos also.

“Broadband through Wi-Fi recommendations were also approved, and the Commission felt this will give a huge fillip to broadband in India through setting up of WiFi hotspots,” Telecom Secretary Aruna Sundararajan said after a two hour meeting on Tuesday.

She clarified that for inflight connectivity, a framework to give out in flight connectivity licenses will be created, after which license holders and airlines will be able to give the service to consumers. “This can take about three months,” she said.

Among other decisions that were approved, internet telephony and ease of doing business recommendations from the regulator were also approved.