Thaindian News

New Delhi, Oct 10 (IANS) The draft National Telecom Policy 2011 Monday unveiled by Communications Minister Kapil Sibal garnered huge applause by the industry, but concerns were expressed on issues like a level playing field, interests of CDMA operators and rise in the price of services under the new policy.

“The proposals to provide more spectrum, allow sharing of spectrum and allocation of spectrum through transparent market-based processes are progressive policy decisions, which will provide much needed capacity augmentation to this vital sector,” said Bharti Airtel in a statement.

“We look forward to constructive deliberations on the draft policy proposals and hope that the final policy will provide a level playing field, encourage more investment in the sector — particularly in rural areas and for broadband — and ensure the long-term sustainability and viability of the sector,” it added.

The telecom giant also said that the proposal to give infrastructure status to the telecom sector and rationalisation of taxes and levies will provide much needed relief to the sector.

Another telecom operator, MTS, said the company is looking forward to the formulation of policies so that more spectrum can be released, adding the strong focus to make affordable and reliable broadband available on demand by 2015.

“Equally significant would be the release of policy details specific to a range of issues, including delinking of spectrum and telecom license, allowing of spectrum trading, pooling and sharing,” said Vsevolod Rozanov, president and chief executive officer, MTS India.

However, MTS, a CDMA player, also expressed concern about the interest of the CDMA operators and their customers under the new policy.

Financial advisory and research firm Deloitte Haskins & Sells said that the government’s statement that the revenue generation will play a secondary role is likely to rationalise various regulatory matters and clear direct-indirect tax and other litigations.

The research firm also said that the customers will hugely be benefitted by full mobile number portability and free roaming theory.

However, it expressed concern at delinking of spectrum from licenses which is expected to increase the cost of the spectrum and thus that of the services given to the consumers.