Airtel launches website to allow users to track Project Leap

Bharti Airtel, the country's No 1 carrier, has launched a special website which will allow customers to know everything about how Project Leap, the 60,000-crore network transformation programme, is progressing in their respective localities. Customers will also be able to get a transparent view of coverage of voice and high speed broadband services. They will also be able to see sites planned in their localities, seek help on hosting sites and share site upgradation plans for every site. Customers will also be able to see sites that have been forcibly shut down in their locality. "With the launch of Project Leap, Airtel is investing companywide resources in ramping up our network infrastructure towards this modernisation drive and improving the service experience delivered to every customer," said Gopal Vittal, MD & CEO, Bharti Airtel (India and South Asia).

Trai aims to resolve some neutrality issues by early 2016

As the debate over net neutrality resurfaces, telecom regulator Trai has said that it is looking to solve the issues "part-by-part" and also aiming to come up with the final guidelines based on the views received from different stakeholders, by early 2016. "We expect to resolve some of the (issues pertaining to) the basic principles of net neutrality next year," Trai chairman RS Sharma told PTI in an interview. As per SavetheInternet forum, the net neutrality principle says that internet service providers should not block or discriminate against any applications or content that ride over those networks. A debate on net neutrality stirred across the country after Airtel decided to charge separately for internet-based calls but withdrew it later after people protested. Internet activists and experts flayed the operator for 'Airtel Zero' service along with Facebook's internet.org service, currently renamed 'Free Basics'. "Just as your phone company shouldn't decide who you can call and what you say on that call, your ISP (internet service provider) shouldn't be concerned with the content you view or post online," says the forum. However, there are issues between telecom operators, internet-based companies and consumer interest which has to be balanced by the regulator. Amid debate over zero-rating plans and telecom firms offering discounted tariffs for accessing certain websites, Trai issued a consultation paper seeking comments on whether such differential pricing should be allowed. Facebook's Internet.org had partnered with Reliance Communications in February this year to provide free internet access to many websites as part of the initiative. "When some issues are big, you need to resolve them part-by-part. We are currently dealing with the issues as they arrive," Sharma said. The 20 most beautiful women of 2015Risottop.com The Ultimate Way to Get Cheap Hotel RoomsSave70

Reliance Jio differs with Airtel, Vodafone and Idea on spectrum cap, reserve price of airwaves

Reliance Jio Infocomm has disagreed with GSM telcos Bharti Airtel, Vodafone and Idea on spectrum limits for operators and the reserve price of airwaves to be auctioned, although it concurs that bandwidth for high-speed mobile broadband services shouldn't be offered for sale any time soon. Mukesh Ambani-controlled Jio, in a submission to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai), said the government must abolish the cap on the amount of airwaves an operator can hold in a band, while retaining the overall limit of 25% in a circle. Responding to the regulator's consultation paper on valuation of the reserve price of airwaves in various bands, the company said, "Since the auctioned spectrum is technology neutral, intra-band spectrum caps have become redundant." Jio said band caps can constrain service providers and they are forced to opt for multiple bands. This takes away the benefits of a higher quantum of spectrum for mobile broadband services in terms of enhanced spectral efficiencies. However, other members of the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) including Airtel, Vodafone and Idea, suggested that the cap within a band should be retained at 50% and sought an increase in the overall cap in a circle from the current 25%.