I&B Ministry
I&B ministry opposes Trai recommendations for FM b’casters
NEW DELHI: The Information and Broadcasting (I&B) ministry secretary has opposed an interim recommendation by the broadcast and cable regulator to give some respite to the private FM radio players on the issue of license fee that becomes payable month-end.
According to government sources, the I&B ministry secretary has made noting on a file relating to FM radio that since the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) recommendations have to be cleared by the cabinet, it would not be feasible to do at this juncture when general elections are round the
corner.
If this line of thinking is allowed to go through, it would mean that after April, all the FM radio companies in the private sector would have to cough up hefty amounts of license fees to continue to be on air, even though the issue of migration from a license to revenue sharing regime is being considered by Trai.
The opposition to the Trai suggestion has been done after receiving advise of the cabinet secretary, top most bureaucrat in the Indian government, who has said calling a cabinet meeting at this juncture is not conducive and would send wrong signals.
Earlier this month, Trai, in an interim recommendation, had said that the FM radio licensees may be given the option of deferring the (license) payments, which may fall due till a final decision is taken on the issue.
This, Trai had further added, would be subject to the condition that the dues as finally decided by the government would be collected from the licensees with interest from the due date.
Though this development may not be music to the ears of the private FM radio players, they can take heart from the fact that I&B minister Ravi Shankar Prasad can still over-rule the secretary’s stand.
Government sources did admit that Prasad, who was out of Delhi on Saturday on election-related work, does have few options, but did not reveal their exact nature.
The government had decided during the 9th Plan period to permit private FM radio stations on a license fee basis. In May 2000, 108 frequencies in the FM spectrum were auctioned through an open auction bidding.
A total of 37 licenses were issued out of which 24 are operational (of which two have been granted deemed operational status, pending commencement of actual broadcast). However, the private FM radio players have been alleging that a high license fee has made the business unviable, apart from other factors like not being allowed to attract foreign investment.
A government-backed committee, headed by Ficci’s secretary-general Amit Mitra, set up to look into the FM radio policy has suggested that the government study the desirability and legal implications of making modifications in licensing regime of phase-I licensees, including migration
to a revenue sharing model.
After Trai was made the broadcast and cable regulator, the issue has been referred to it.
I&B Ministry
India rolls out Rs 203 crore TDIP scheme to boost 6G push
Revised policy widens access for startups, boosts global telecom standards play
NEW DELHI: India is doubling down on its telecom ambitions with a revamped Technology Development and Investment Promotion scheme, designed to help the country move from participant to power player in global standards.
The Ministry of Communications on Tuesday unveiled revised guidelines for the TDIP scheme, committing Rs 203 crore for the 2026 to 2031 period. The move aims to strengthen India’s presence in international telecom forums while accelerating homegrown innovation in next-generation technologies, including 5G Advanced and 6G.
At the launch, Ministry of Communications union minister for communications and development of north eastern region Jyotiraditya M. Scindia said the updated framework is intended to give Indian players a stronger voice in shaping global telecom rules.
The scheme focuses heavily on increasing participation in key global bodies such as the International Telecommunication Union, 3GPP and oneM2M. Financial support will be provided for attending international meetings, submitting technical proposals, taking leadership roles, and even hosting global events in India.
The idea is straightforward. If India helps write the rules, its technologies stand a better chance of going global.
Beyond policy rooms and conference tables, the revised scheme casts a wider net across the ecosystem. Startups, MSMEs, academia and research institutions are now explicitly included, opening the door for broader collaboration and faster innovation cycles. Pilot projects, proof-of-concept initiatives and real-world demonstrations will also receive support, helping ideas move from lab to market.
Supporting the rollout will be institutions such as Telecommunications Standards Development Society India, Telecom Centres of Excellence India and Telecommunications Consultants India Limited. These bodies will coordinate efforts, build capacity and ensure industry participation aligns with global opportunities.
The initiative ties in with broader efforts by the Department of Telecommunications, including programmes like the Telecom Technology Development Fund and the Bharat 6G Mission, forming a more cohesive push towards future-ready networks.
Also present at the event were Ministry of Communications minister of state for communications and rural development Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani and Department of Telecommunications secretary (telecommunications) and chairman digital communications commission Amit Agrawal.
With this update, India is not just looking to keep pace with global telecom trends. It is aiming to help define them.
