Telecom Commission, the highest decision-making body of the Department of Telecommunications, is scheduled to meet today to take a final call on important issues including in-flight data connectivity, net neutrality, approval to BSNL for allotment of 4G spectrum.
DNA reported that the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India has already submitted its recommendations on most of the issues which will be taken up in the meeting.
Under the current norms, flyers are not allowed to use mobile phones/data services over the Indian airspace due to security reasons. If the proposal for in-flight connectivity is approved, flyers in India as well as those flying over the country will be able to make voice calls and access data services through WIFI on board an aircraft.
In January this year Trai had recommended the creation of an in-flight connectivity (IFC) service provider for IFC services at an annual licence fee of only Re1 initially, after entering into an arrangement with telecom licence holders.
Internet services through in-flight Wi-Fi should be made available when electronic devices are permitted to be used, Trai had recommended. Issues including ease of doing business, machine to machine communication and regulatory framework for internet telephony may also come up for today.
