TRAI issues consultation paper on definition of international traffic

New Delhi: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) today released a consultation paper on the definition of international traffic.

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT), vide a reference dated 30.08.2022, has requested the Authority to provide its recommendations under section 11(1)(a) of the TRAI Act, 1997 (as amended) on the definition of International SMS and Domestic SMS Did.
The load on telecommunication networks is called traffic or more specifically ‘telecom traffic’. Telecom traffic includes various types of traffic such as voice calls, SMS etc. Additionally, telecommunications traffic includes domestic traffic (i.e. communications traffic within the country) and international traffic. In the Indian context, domestic traffic includes intra-circle traffic and inter-circle traffic, which are specifically defined in the Unified Licence. Intra-circle traffic and inter-circle traffic are the only two components of domestic traffic, hence the term ‘domestic traffic’ is clearly defined in the Unified Licence.
The Authority clarified that the term ‘International Traffic’ has not been defined in the Unified License and ‘International SMS’ is a type of ‘International Traffic’. Therefore, the Authority is of the view that instead of defining International SMS in the Unified License Agreement, it would be appropriate to define the term ‘International Traffic’.
In this regard, a consultation paper on definition of international traffic has been placed on TRAI’s website (www.trai.gov.in) to seek inputs from the stakeholders. Written comments are invited from stakeholders on the issues raised in the consultation paper by May 30, 2023 and counter comments by June 13, 2023. Comments/counter comments may be sent to advmn@trai.gov.