Calling times
A single percent increase in the telephone density of the country sets off a three per cent growth in the GDP. Policy makers need to keep this at the back of their minds. And the telephone density includes mobile phones.Despite all the liberalisation efforts, the telephone density in India remains abysmal.
In this light, it would not be entirely wrong to say that the government has neglected the potential that mobile phones offer. Countries like Cambodia, Lebanon and even Israel have shown that the mobile business can fulfil key infrastructural requirements.
Indians perceive mobile phones as premium urban fancy. But, countries like Bangladesh have shown that it can serve the rural sector as well.
Hence, it is time for the policy makers to sit back and introspect. The world is moving towards mobile communications. Steadily, the importance of fixed line communications is diminishing.
The price that India would have to pay by this continual neglect is difficult to fathom.