According to an internal communication by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) all policy recommendations made by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) will mandatorily have to be referred to the Telecom Commission to ensure a swift and “decisive government response within a defined time span.”

The move is aimed at maintaining a harmonious balance between the sector regulator and licensor on TRAI recommendations. DoT’s decision follows recent differences between the department and TRAI over a number of issues, particularly, pricing of CDMA spectrum, among others.

Further, in its communication, DoT has stated that with an aim to fast track decision making process, TRAI’s recommendations will immediately be referred to the “concerned Telecom Commission member or the additional secretary in DoT. Thereafter, the licensor’s views would have to be placed before Telecom Secretary for ratification within 60 days of receipt of recommendations from the regulatory authority.