The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India or TRAI (established 1997) is the independent regulator established by the Government of India to regulate the telecommunications business in India. The TRAI, which draws regulatory power from the TRAI Act of 1997 (Amended 2000), is responsible for:
Notwithstanding anything contained in the Indian Telegraph Act,1885,the functions of the Authority shall be to-
(a) Make recommendations, on a request from the licensor, on the following matters, namely:
(i) need and timing for introduction of new service provider;
(ii) terms and conditions of license to a service provider;
(iii) revocation of license for non-compliance of terms and conditions of license:
(iv)measures to facilitate competition and promote efficiency in the operation of telecommunication services so as to facilitate growth in such services.
(v) technological improvements in the services provided by the service providers.
(vi) type of equipment to be used by the service providers after inspection of equipment used in the network.
(vii)measures for the development of telecommunication technology and any other matter relatable to telecommunication industry in general;
(viii) efficient management of available spectrum;
(b) Discharge the following functions, namely:-
(i) ensure compliance of terms and conditions of license;
(ii) notwithstanding anything contained in the terms and conditions of the license granted before the commencement of the Telecom Regulatory Authority (Amendment) Ordinance,2000, fix the terms and conditions of inter-connectivity between the service providers;
(iii) ensure technical compatibility and effective inter-connection between different service providers.
(iv) regulate arrangement amongst service providers of sharing their revenue derived from providing telecommunication services;
(v) lay down the standards of quality of service to be provided by the service providers and ensure he quality of service and conduct the periodical survey of such service provided by the service providers so as to protect interest of the consumers of telecommunication services;
(vi) lay down and ensure the time period for providing local and long distance circuits of telecommunication between different service providers;
(vii) maintain register of interconnect agreements and of all such other matters as may be provided in the regulations;
(viii) keep register maintained under clause (viii) open for inspection to any member of public on payment of such fee and compliance of such other requirement as may be provided in the regulations;
(ix) ensure effective compliance of universal service obligations;
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