Practice Areas > Media & Communication

The communications industry analysis of India suggests that this industry has registered phenomenal growth since the 1990s. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) regulates the telecommunication industry of India. It has earned good reputation for precision and competence.

Our Focus

The communication industry has grown immensely over the last 15 years but huge scope of growth still waits to be explored. With 110.01 million connections, the Indian telecommunication industry is the fifth largest and fastest growing telecommunication industry in the world.

The subscriber base of the Indian telecommunication industry has grown by 40% in the year 2005 and is projected to touch 250 million by the end of the financial year 2008 according to a leading business group survey. In this business context, we are a legal partner who can help mitigate issues and navigate the legalities of this dynamic business sector.

Our Competencies

We offer international and domestic experience and expertise on the full range of issues relating to telecommunications, media and information technology.

Our lawyers have extensive knowledge of negotiating and securing rights for participating in Indian telecom liberalisation. This team has also advised multi-national and domestic clients on various telecom issues.

Our Experience

The issues handled by our 'communications' team are as varied as those facing the internet companies. They include:

• Negotiating and drafting agreements for e-commerce transactions
• Interactive content providers
• Online marketing and advising

The areas covered by such agreements include:

• Product and software development
• Distribution
• Outsourcing
• System integration
• Internet home page development
• E-commerce sites
• Corporate e-mail policies
• Hyperlinks
• Electronic data interchange

Other work in this field

We have also counseled clients regarding the legal standards for conducting sweepstakes and contests over the Internet; as well as on the practice of telemedicine and promotion of medical products via the internet. Other agreements dealt with by the team include those for the sale and purchase of internet companies and the documentations, permissions and approvals required thereupon.

Contractual agreements, operating licenses and more

A number of issues arise after a telecommunications company secures an operating license in the basic as well as cellular telephony. These include contractual agreements with subscribers, dealers, retailers, distributors, manufacturers of handsets, commission scheduling for dealers, retailers or distributors, terms and conditions for user of SIM cards in areas such as global roaming, customer and area specific agreements, intellectual property issues, and registration of the dealers/distributors agreements with the Monopolies and Restrictive Trade Practices Commission.

Advani & Co. has handled all such agreements for Birla AT&T, who are providing cellular services in telecom circles of Maharashtra, Goa and Gujarat. We also have sufficient experience in drafting definitive agreements relating to joint ventures for laying of optic fiber cables.

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