According to a World Bank press release issued here on Wednesday, the telecommunications sector reform technical assistance project will help India modernise the government agencies responsible for the sector, strengthen their regulatory roles, and improve the management of the radio frequency for radio stations, cellular phones, satellite communications, and long-distance telephone and data traffic.

Total project cost is $72 million to which the Indian government will provide $10 million. The World Bank loan has a variable spread and rate, and is a single-currency loan with a grace period of five years and a maturity of 20 years.

The IBRD release says that the project will help the Department of Telecommunications update radio frequency licensing and management systems, including financing software and hardware equipment.