Return
to Story Page
To print: Select File and then Print from your
browser's menu
Our Corporate Bureau
New Delhi, Dec 5: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) Act, 1997, will not be amended, according to Telecom Commission chairman Anil Kumar. Addressing the national convention on telecommunications here on Saturday, which was jointly organised by Assocham and Telecom Industry and Service Association of India (TISA), Kumar said the role of Trai would be strengthened in the proposed telecom policy.
The proposed amendments include making it mandatory for the government to seek Trai's recommendations in dispute settlement, an addition to the preamble of the Act and a provision to ensure that the number of persons having served the government will not exceed half the number of members at any time in the future.
Industry associations led by CII have been vociferous in their support for the amendments in order to strengthen Trai. Kumar said the government is committed to resolving all problems of cellular and basic telecom service operators. Admitting that the 1994 telecom policy was prepared inhaste, he assured industry representatives that an appropriate policy framework was being designed keeping in mind the changed scenario.
Kumar also ruled out the coporatisation of the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) in the near future. "There are a number of issues involved in the process and no haste is needed," he said, adding that the corporatisation of the department should be done in phases over the next five to 10 years. Acknowledging the need for DoT to be efficient, Kumar said, "We remain committed to being a service provider as well policy maker".Kumar said the new national telecom policy will be released in the next 10 days. DoT intends to design a policy that will increase overall tele-density in the country, while ensuring private participation in meeting the village telephone project targets. The policy will also consider the convergence of new telecommunication and information technologies and their impact on the Indian scene. However, he remained silent on the imbroglio over highlicence fee for private operators in basic and cellular services.
Telecom Commission member, services, PS Saran said DoT revenues would decline substantially if Internet telephony was allowed. "Such a move will also hamper the growth of basic telephony as most of the private operators will concentrate on urban areas only," he added.
Trai chairman SS Sodhi said that turmoil and uncertainty was clouding the investment climate in the country. "DoT's contention on Trai's role and jurisdiction was hampering the functioning of the regulatory body," he added.Justice Sodhi hoped the group on telecom (GoT) headed by Planning Commission deputy chairman Jaswant Singh would take expeditious and decisive action on removing problems facing the entire sector.
"The new telecom policy should provide for framing a new communications law to replace the 1885 Indian Telegraph Act," he said. On the issue of licence fee for private operators, Sodhi said that the revenue-sharing formula should have been followed in line withoverseas trends.
Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd (MTNL) chairman S Rajagopalan said the new telecom policy must clearly define the role of government as a service provider. "The demand for a wide variety of services is growing and the government should open up the telecom sector for unlimited competition," he added. "Even foreign companies should be allowed to compete with Indians, rather than being forced into forming joint ventures," said Rajagopalan. "This will reduce cost and improve quality of services," he added.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
------------------------------------------------------------
This story was printed from Net Express located at http://www.expressindia.com. Net Express provides a portal to India, with news from The Indian Express and The Financial Express along with sites on travel and tourism, the entertainment industry, the power sector, the environment and much more.
------------------------------------------------------------