Trai recommends 90day limit for prelaunch network trials

NEW DELHI: Telecom operators should be allowed an initial maximum of 90 days to carry out network testing and involve only a small group of users before commercially launching their services, according to detailed recommendations sent by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) on Monday to the department of telecommunications.

In its recommendations on “Network Testing before Commercial Launch of Services”, made public on Monday, Trai said that if an operator fails to complete network testing in 90 days due to valid reasons, it may request the department for additional time, which may be decided on case-to-case basis.

The regulator’s recommendations, if accepted, will set clear guidelines for a new operator which wants to launch operations in a circle.

Trai has suggested that there should be no restriction on the time limit if the network testing is conducted using test SIMS— that is, SIMS that are given to employees and business partners for test purposes only.

Moreover, the number of test subscribers that can be enrolled by an operator in a licence service area should be limited to 5% of its installed network capacity for that area, Trai said.

Operators must submit the detailed capacity calculations of the network to the telecom department and the regulator at least 15 days before starting enrolment of test subscriber.