"The revenue base of telecom service providers is about Rs 55,000 crore (Rs 550 billion) and that of cable service providers around Rs 15,000 crore (Rs 150 billion). With an annual share of 0.05 per cent on this revenue base, it will be able to meet its recurring expenditure and have a provision for capital expenditure," the regulator said in a statement.
Demanding financial autonomy like other regulatory authorities, including securities and exchange board of India and insurance regulatory and development authority, which derive their revenue from cess and fees, the telecom regulator said the move would also make TRAI free of government funding.
At present, all the expenditure of TRAI is met through the grants from the government and the TRAI Act provides for the constitution of a general fund in which grants received from the government and other receipts in the form of fees and charges are to be credited.