There is also little disagreement that access is at the nucleus of any digital ecosystem. However, while this access can play the saviour during and after the Covid-19 pandemic, it seems unviable in sustaining investments in experience and transformational technologies. Three out of four leading technology service providers (TSPs) are in the red. Almost all struggle to match global standards on customer experience. And the majority would like to wish away 5G auctions in the near term, given their weak balance sheets and monetisation disposition.
While many of us await the February 1annual budget announcements to spur revival, the Covid era has brought telecom to the centre stage. No matter which industry you represent, digital aspirations are ripe and have a board mandate to transform. For these industries, there is no love lost for telecom. It is survival and competitive instincts to stay relevant in the Covid-affected economy that has made telecom so important for them.
To expect a good voice and data experience outdoors and indoors has almost become a fundamental right these days as we work remote, watch on-demand content for entertainment, and provide unhindered online education to our children, while we utilise unblemished digital services that include ecommerce, food delivery, medical consultation and ride-hailing.
Our lives and competitiveness, both at individual and professional levels, are at stake without a globally competitive digital experience. Missing 5G transformation, or not deploying fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) deeper in India may now be a non-option. Missing, or inordinately delaying, a technological transformation, and hoping to catch the next wave, may be utopian. So, it is paramount to make our digital access viable and contemporary.
While TSPs have no choice but to raise tariffs abundantly, policymakers need to revisit the customer experience and viability agenda of the telecom industry, which is at the nucleus of our digital aspirations. Currently, the total licence fee (LF) of 8% of adjusted gross revenue (AGR) is uniformly applicable to all licensees, of which 5% goes to the Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF).
As per USOF data, of the Rs 1,07,601 crore collected for USOF between 2002-03 and 2019-20, Rs 55,577 crore (48%) remains unutilised as on March 3, 2020. This clearly augurs a case to abolish the 5% USO levy immediately. And there could be room to further reduce LF from 3% to 1%.
FTTH growth, globally, has happened in tandem with growth in wireless broadband, as wireless technologies alone can\u2019t cater to the unsatiated needs of consumers fuelled by content, innovative use cases and form factor changes of video specifically. To accelerate India\u2019s fibre drive, the licence fee should be abolished from fixed line services, a faster clearance process designed and levies for right of way to lay fibre lowered. The fixed line ecosystem has enormous potential to contribute to the exchequer in the long run, a trade-off policymakers must consider.
Spectrum usage charge (SUC) of 3-6% on market-discovered pricing of spectrum seems unreasonable. It is unprecedented and should be limited to recovery of administrative cost of spectrum. Monetisation of new spectrum is a challenge, due to unwillingness of the customer to pay for form factor changes. The longevity of technology is shrinking, anyway.
The importance of cash in an overleveraged and capital-intensive industry is well understood by entrepreneurs and policymakers. With crores yet to be paid for pending AGR dues, spectrum renewal, 4G spectrum enhancement, 5G roll-out (spectrum, additional sites, fibre and electronics) and FTTH, the industry could do better if its goods and services tax (GST) input credit is adjusted with other government payouts, such as LF or spectrum charges.
However, the big relief for the industry\u2019s cash can only come through lower, internationally benchmarked spectrum prices, and recalibrating AGR\u2019s definition to restrict levies to core telecom activities going forward.
India missed the physical infrastructure bus in the past. But, surely, it won\u2019t make the same mistakes when it comes to having a viable, and globally competitive, virtual infrastructure.","blog_img":"","featured":0,"status":"Y","seo_title":"Digital at economic policy's centre","seo_url":"digital-at-economic-policy-s-centre","cms_link":"digital-at-economic-policy-s-centre\/4744","updated_at":"2021-01-18 11:33:13","time":"2021-01-18 11:31:57","authors":[{"author_name":"Sanjay Kapoor","author_description":"Ex-CEO India & SA, Bharti Airtel","author_designation":"Ex-CEO India & SA","author_company":"Bharti Airtel","profile_pic":"retail_files\/pic_author_1399353535_temp.jpg"}],"tags":["USOF","FTTH","Policy","TSP","telecom","economic policy","budget 2021","Spectrum usage charge","SUC"],"url_seo":"digital-at-economic-policy-s-centre"}">
电报
脸谱网
复制链接
印度的政策制定者们承认,其数字生态系统将提供至少1万亿美元后寻求5万亿美元的经济。合作,而不是竞争,是典型的从这个多元化的数字生态系统优化的回报。
也有小的分歧,访问在任何数字生态系统的核心。然而,尽管这个访问可以扮演救世主Covid-19大流行期间及之后,似乎不可行在维持投资经验和转换技术。四分之三的领先的技术服务供应商(tsp)在红色。几乎所有的斗争,以符合全球标准的客户体验。和大多数想希望离开5 g拍卖在短期内,考虑到他们薄弱的资产负债表和货币化的性格。
虽然许多人等待2月1日年度预算公告来刺激复苏,Covid时代带来了电信中心舞台。无论哪个行业代表、数字渴望成熟,董事会授权变换。对于这些行业,没有爱了电信。是生存和竞争本能保持相关Covid-affected经济使得电信如此重要。
期待良好的语音和数据体验户外和室内几乎已经成为一项基本权利这些天我们远程工作,娱乐,看点播内容,提供畅通无阻的在线教育我们的孩子,当我们利用无暇疵的数字服务,包括电子商务,食品,医疗咨询和ride-hailing。
我们的生活和竞争力,在个人和专业水平,都没有一个具有全球竞争力的数字体验。缺少5 g转换,或不部署光纤到家庭(FTTH更深层次的在印度现在可能非选项。失踪,或过度延迟,技术改造,希望能赶上下一波,可能是乌托邦。因此,这是至关重要的,让我们的数字可行的和当代的访问。
虽然茶匙别无选择,只能提高关税,决策者需要重新审视电信行业的客户体验和活力的议程,这是数字核的愿望。目前,执照费总额(低频)调整后总收入的8% (AGR)统一适用于所有许可,其中5%的基金(普遍服务义务USOF)。
根据USOF数据、1 Rs 07601卢比的收集USOF 2002 - 03和2019 - 20之间,55577卢比(48%)仍然unutilised, 3月3日,2020年。这显然意味立即废除USO 5%征收。和可能会有空间来进一步减少低频从3%降至1%。
FTTH发展,在全球范围内,发生了与无线宽带的增长,随着无线技术本身不能迎合消费者的方兴未艾的需求推动下内容,创新具体用例和形式变化的视频。加快印度的纤维,执照费从固话服务应该被废除,更快的通关流程设计和征收权躺纤维降低。固定线路生态系统具有巨大的潜在贡献大臣从长远来看,一个平衡政策制定者必须考虑。
频谱的使用费用(往下的3 - 6%)market-discovered定价的频谱似乎不合理。它是前所未有的,应该限于恢复行政成本的频谱。货币化的新光谱是一个挑战,由于客户不愿支付形式的变化。技术的寿命减少。
现金在一个过度的重要性和资本密集型行业企业家和决策者很好理解的。与卢比尚未支付等待AGR会费,频谱更新,4 g谱增强,5 g转出(光谱,额外的网站,纤维和电子)和FTTH,该行业可以做得更好,如果其商品及服务税(GST)输入信贷调整与其他政府支出,如低频或频谱的指控。
然而,大救援行业的现金只能通过降低,国际基准测试光谱价格和调整AGR的定义限制征收核心电信活动。
错过了印度基础设施公共汽车过去。但是,当然,它不会犯同样的错误时,有一个可行的,并具有全球竞争力,虚拟基础设施。
也有小的分歧,访问在任何数字生态系统的核心。然而,尽管这个访问可以扮演救世主Covid-19大流行期间及之后,似乎不可行在维持投资经验和转换技术。四分之三的领先的技术服务供应商(tsp)在红色。几乎所有的斗争,以符合全球标准的客户体验。和大多数想希望离开5 g拍卖在短期内,考虑到他们薄弱的资产负债表和货币化的性格。
虽然许多人等待2月1日年度预算公告来刺激复苏,Covid时代带来了电信中心舞台。无论哪个行业代表、数字渴望成熟,董事会授权变换。对于这些行业,没有爱了电信。是生存和竞争本能保持相关Covid-affected经济使得电信如此重要。
期待良好的语音和数据体验户外和室内几乎已经成为一项基本权利这些天我们远程工作,娱乐,看点播内容,提供畅通无阻的在线教育我们的孩子,当我们利用无暇疵的数字服务,包括电子商务,食品,医疗咨询和ride-hailing。
我们的生活和竞争力,在个人和专业水平,都没有一个具有全球竞争力的数字体验。缺少5 g转换,或不部署光纤到家庭(FTTH更深层次的在印度现在可能非选项。失踪,或过度延迟,技术改造,希望能赶上下一波,可能是乌托邦。因此,这是至关重要的,让我们的数字可行的和当代的访问。
虽然茶匙别无选择,只能提高关税,决策者需要重新审视电信行业的客户体验和活力的议程,这是数字核的愿望。目前,执照费总额(低频)调整后总收入的8% (AGR)统一适用于所有许可,其中5%的基金(普遍服务义务USOF)。
根据USOF数据、1 Rs 07601卢比的收集USOF 2002 - 03和2019 - 20之间,55577卢比(48%)仍然unutilised, 3月3日,2020年。这显然意味立即废除USO 5%征收。和可能会有空间来进一步减少低频从3%降至1%。
FTTH发展,在全球范围内,发生了与无线宽带的增长,随着无线技术本身不能迎合消费者的方兴未艾的需求推动下内容,创新具体用例和形式变化的视频。加快印度的纤维,执照费从固话服务应该被废除,更快的通关流程设计和征收权躺纤维降低。固定线路生态系统具有巨大的潜在贡献大臣从长远来看,一个平衡政策制定者必须考虑。
频谱的使用费用(往下的3 - 6%)market-discovered定价的频谱似乎不合理。它是前所未有的,应该限于恢复行政成本的频谱。货币化的新光谱是一个挑战,由于客户不愿支付形式的变化。技术的寿命减少。
现金在一个过度的重要性和资本密集型行业企业家和决策者很好理解的。与卢比尚未支付等待AGR会费,频谱更新,4 g谱增强,5 g转出(光谱,额外的网站,纤维和电子)和FTTH,该行业可以做得更好,如果其商品及服务税(GST)输入信贷调整与其他政府支出,如低频或频谱的指控。
然而,大救援行业的现金只能通过降低,国际基准测试光谱价格和调整AGR的定义限制征收核心电信活动。
错过了印度基础设施公共汽车过去。但是,当然,它不会犯同样的错误时,有一个可行的,并具有全球竞争力,虚拟基础设施。
