TRAI moots discussion paper to address issues with CAP
Aims to elicit stakeholders’ views on the tariff for SMS and cell broadcast spread by telecos through the CAP platform during disasters and non-disasters
New Delhi: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) on Wednesday released a consultation paper to discuss tariff-related issues for SMS and cell broadcast alerts disseminated through Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) platform during disasters and non-disasters.
The telecom department allows SMS and cell broadcast free of cost only for a definite period and for events where a specific request for free of cost messages comes from specific nodal authorities. "However, there are occasions when the Government would like to send alert messages to the public forewarning of a possible disaster or occasions where the public has to be informed of special events such as holding of relief, vaccine, medical camps, specific law and order related situations etc.," regulator Trai said in a statement.
TRAI further said the purpose of the latest consultation paper is to elicit stakeholders' views on the tariff for SMS and cell broadcast disseminated by telecom service providers through the CAP platform during disasters and non-disasters. It also aims to understand the technical aspects that might have an impact on the cost of the service.The regulator has invited written comments by December 1, and counter-comments by December 15, 2021.
