TRAI empanels another agency for carrying out audit of DAS of DPOs

The the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has empanelled Hiren Upadhyay, Partner, BDO India as the tenth agency to carry out audit of digital addressable system (DAS) of distribution platform operators (DPOs). Earlier, the TRAI had empanelled nine agencies to carry out audit of DAS.

These auditors included 1) CA Anil Kumar Jain, Borkar & Muzumdar; 2) Peeyush Vaish, Partner, Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu India LLP; 3) Rahul Shah, Associate Partner, Ernst & Young LLP; 4) Jitendra Kumar Sarawgi, Managing Partner, J.K. Sarawgi & Company; 5) Jeenendra Bhandari, Partner, MGB & Co LLP; 6) Koushik Balasubramanian, Senior Director, Protiviti India Member; 7) Laxmikant Saini, Partner, S. M Saini & Associates; 8) Gaurav Mittal, Partner, S.K. Mittal & Co., Chartered Accountants; and 9) Vishwanath Kumar Seshadari, Director, Xestion Advisor.

In March, the TRAI had issued a tender document inviting expression of interest for empanelment of auditors to carry out an audit of DAS of the distribution platform operators (DPOs). The regulator has invited proposals from eligible audit firms/ companies/ Limited Liability Partnership (LLP)/ Partnership firms.

The period of empanelment will be valid for two years from the date of empanelment of the concerned firm.

The empanelled firm will have to submit the quarterly report to TRAI about the details of audits carried out by them during the quarter within 21 days from the end of the respective quarter, along with a copy of the reports, as per the format prescribed by TRAI.

In case the firm observes any major discrepancy in the system of the distributor during audit, the same shall be reported to TRAI immediately. According to TRAI, the interconnection regulations provide that the authority may empanel auditors for the purpose of such audit.