Govt may extend pre-paid mobile services in J&K, NE, Assam for 2 yrs

In March 2011, govt had issued a notification allowing the telecom operators to offer pre-paid services in the three areas for two more years staring April 1, 2011

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) is likely to consider recommending the Committee of Secretaries to allow pre-paid mobile services in Jammu & Kashmir, North east and Assam service areas by two more years effective from April 1, 2013.

According to a recent discussion of the DoT, the department is considering the same as the Common Assessment Framework (CAF) Audit has shown that the overall performance of the operators in the three areas have improved in the recent past.

The DoT has also requested the Cabinet Secretariat to call am early meeting of the Committee of Secretaries as the deadline is approaching.

Earlier on March 31, 2011, the Government had issued a notification allowing the telecom operators to offer pre-paid services in the three areas for two more years staring April 1, 2011.

If the Government decides to allow operators to offer pre-paid mobile services for two more years, there will not be any change in norms.

The Government had, in January 2010, lifted ban on the use of pre-paid mobile connections in the North East, Assam and Jammu & Kashmir for one year with strict re-verification norms, along with other conditions.

In the fresh guidelines issues in 2011, it was stated that no customer shall be given more than one pre-paid or post-paid connection without valid reasons. Under no condition, a single household in these states would not be entitled to more than six connections.