[apnic-talk] India's Telecom/data carrier providers
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Date: Sat, 27 Mar 1999 15:55:02 +0530
From: Gopi Krishna S Garge <gopi at ece.iisc dot ernet dot in>
Organization: ERNET India, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore
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To: gopi at ece.iisc dot ernet dot in
Subject: India's Telecom/data carrier providers
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Interesting happenings here in India...
--Gopi
http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/mar27/lead.htm
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<td><a href=3D"/index.html"><font color=3D"#000000" size=3D"2"><b=
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<td align=3D"right" width=3D"33%"><font size=3D"2"><b>Saturday,
March 27, 1999</b></font> </td>
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<hr nosehade>
<p align=3D"center"><font size=3D"4"><strong>Long-distance services
to be privatised</strong></font></p>
<p align=3D"center"><font size=3D"5"><strong>Cabinet approves telecom
policy '99</strong></font></p>
<p align=3D"center">NEW DELHI, March 28 (UNI)</p>
<p>OPENING UP of national long-distance telecom services to
private operators from January 1, 2000, review of opening of
international long distance telephony to competition by the year
2004, assigning of arbitration role to the Telecom Regulatory
Authority of India (Trai) and corporatisation of the
Telecommunication Department by 2001 are the highlights of the
new telecom policy announced by the government today.</p>
<p>Briefing reporters about the adoption of New Telecom Policy
1999, Communication Minister Jagmohan and Chairman of the Group
on Telecommunications (GoT) Jaswant Singh said the Union Cabinet
considered the report of the group today and accorded its
approval the new telecom policy in its meeting this morning.</p>
<p><b>Trai as arbitrator</b><br>
The government has decided to strengthen the role of Trai by
assigning to it the arbitration function for resolving any
dispute between the government and any licencee. Earlier, the
government had taken the stand that the Trai had no role between
DoT as licenser and service providers as licencees.</p>
<p>The government has also decided that voice telephony will not
be opened on the Internet. Mr Jaswant Singh said if voice
telephony is allowed, then the Internet service providers will
also become the providers of fixed telephone services. He,
however, said the government will be constantly reviewing the
situation.</p>
<p><b>Referred</b><br>
The government has referred the issue of future of existing
licences for basic telephone and cellular services to the
attorney general.</p>
<p>The issue thus stands postponed indefinitely. The existing
service providers had great hopes on a positive outcome regarding
their problems in the new telecom policy.</p>
<p>Mr Jaswant Singh said a reference would be made to the
attorney general on the subject ''without prejudice to`` any
court case. This has reference to some telecom operators
approaching courts for resolution of disputes.</p>
<p>The new policy introduces the concept of a one-time entry fee
and revenue sharing arrangement for the new licencees, the basis
of which would be recommended by the Trai in a time-bound manner.</p>
<p>Mr Jaswant Singh claimed that the new policy has been framed
in an open and transparent manner as the draft policy had been
placed on the Internet for inviting comment and suggestions. More
than 1,500 suggestions were received and many of them were
incorporated in the new policy which replaces the policy of 1994.</p>
<p>Mr Jaswant Singh said the Telecommunication Department would
be corporatised by the year 2001 and as a precursor, a separate
Department of Telecom Services would be created by separating the
policy and licensing functions of DoT from the service provision
function.</p>
<p><b>Decision on tariff today</b><br>
Mr Jaswant Singh said an annoucement regarding the issue of
telecom tariff recommended by the Trai would be made tomorrow.</p>
<p>He said the Cabinet decision regarding the new telecom policy
has been made adhering to the deadline of March 31 set by Prime
Minister A B Vajpayee. The draft of the new policy was prepared
by the Group on Telecommunications which was constituted by the
prime minister.</p>
<p><img src=3D"/deccanherald/images/redball.gif"> <font size=3D"3"><b>Mor=
e
from Union Cabinet</b><br>
</font><a href=3D"/deccanherald/mar27/cvc.htm"><font size=3D"3"><b>CVC
to continue as non-statutory body</b></font></a><font size=3D"3"><br>
</font><a href=3D"/deccanherald/mar27/cable.htm"><font size=3D"3"><b>Cabi=
net
okays amendments to Cable TV Regulation Act</b></font></a><font
size=3D"3"><br>
</font><a href=3D"/deccanherald/mar27/cabinet.htm"><font
size=3D"3"><b>Union Cabinet allows day-to-day expenditure for
ministries, Govt </b></font></a></p>
<hr noshade>
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