MAM
AROI welcomes TRAI’s broadcasting recommendations under Telecommunications Act
MUMBAI: This is one industry which is kind of giving the thumbs up to the recently recommended changes to broadcasting services by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India’s (TRAI) under the Telecommunications Act, 2023. In fact, the radio industry has gone beyond that and has welcome the proposed changes through The Association of Radio Operators for India (AROI).
The proposals outline significant changes to the regulatory framework, replacing the existing licensing model with a structured authorisation system intended to streamline operations and foster digital transformation.
The key recommendations include:
* A voluntary migration path for existing licensees until 2030, becoming mandatory thereafter
* Technology-neutral approach to facilitate digital broadcasting transition
* Separation of service authorisation from frequency assignment
* Permission for private FM stations to broadcast news and current affairs for up to 10 minutes hourly
* Allowance for terrestrial radio services to stream content online simultaneously
* Removal of mandatory co-location requirements for FM radio stations
* Voluntary infrastructure sharing between broadcasting and telecom providers
* Implementation of a separate programme code and advertisement code for private radio
* 10-year licence renewal periods with a 4 per cent adjusted gross revenue fee structure
* Potential shift from city-wise to district-wise allocation of FM frequencies
The Telecommunications Act, 2023, which repeals the Indian Telegraph Act of 1885, mandates authorisation for entities providing telecommunication services, though implementation dates remain pending.
An AROI spokesperson acknowledged the recommendations as “a welcome step towards industry growth and regulatory clarity” whilst noting certain aspects may require “further discussion” to fully serve private broadcasters’ interests
Brands
Thomas Cook India, SOTC and Booking.com team up for smarter corporate stays
Global hotel choices meet Indian corporate controls for seamless business travel
MUMBAI: Business travel just got a major upgrade. Thomas Cook (India) and its group company SOTC Travel have joined forces with Booking.com to offer Indian corporates world-class accommodation options with a side of convenience.
The collaboration brings Booking.com’s vast global inventory, more than 31 million listings across 220 countries, straight into Thomas Cook and SOTC’s corporate booking platforms. From luxury hotels and resorts to homes and apartments, business travellers now have an unprecedented range of choices, all while staying within company travel policies.
Thomas Cook and SOTC president & group head of global business travel Indiver Rastogi said, “Today’s business travellers want more choice, flexibility and transparency. By linking Booking.com’s extensive inventory with our managed corporate tools, we’re delivering exactly that: policy control, price clarity and service support that businesses can trust.”
The offering is designed with the Indian corporate traveller in mind. Key features include transparent pricing with GST-compliant invoices, curated hotel options for SMEs to large enterprises, coverage across 2,500 plus Indian cities, verified traveller reviews, essential business amenities, and integrated policy control for approvals, budgets and credit limits.
Booking.com VP partnerships Mark van der Linden added, “Corporate travellers in India want the same seamless experience they enjoy in personal trips, with the right corporate guardrails. This partnership makes our global accommodation inventory enterprise-ready, combining choice, flexibility and localised support.”
With real-time booking access on desktop and mobile, enterprise-specific rates, loyalty benefits, and future integrations into Thomas Cook’s TravelOne platform, the partnership promises to make corporate travel smoother, safer and smarter than ever.
