Telecom policy of 1994 was a bit disaster: R Chandrashekhar

The National Telecom Policy 1994 was a "bit disaster" as it could not achieve much for the sector, Nasscom President and former telecom secretary R Chandrashekhar said today.
"The 1994 policy was a bit of disaster. It didn't do anything much. Mobile was for those who could afford to pay Rs 16 a minute. But once NTP 1999 came, it changed whole thing dramatically.
"It shows that if you have right tweaks in policy and then give enough space to private sector to do what it needs to do but ensure that there is competition all the time," Chandrashekhar said at an event organised by Action for India.

Under NTP 1994 mobile operators had to pay fix licence fee which many of the companies even failed to earn from the market. In 1999, new telecom policy was released under which it issued licence to company promising high revenue share to the government.
Chandrashekhar is credited for formulating National Telecom Policy 2012 which is under implemenation now.
He also said that 5 out of 6 technology missions set by government have not been successful because they were largely dependent on government.

"I don't think big problem can be completely solved by government alone," Chandrashekhar said.
He said that the present revolution to solve society problem is largely driven by private sector.

"The eco-system of start-ups in India has now grown beyong e-commerce. These are in area of energy, health, education and cyber security where Indian companies are doing extremely good," Chandrashekhar said.
Creator of Google map maker and Former Country Head for Google Products in India, Lalitesh Katragadda, said that there are innovators in the country who have solution to problem of Indian society but due to no buyer in the country and tough eligibility criteria in government procurement they tend to look for overseas market.
He said that such hurdles should be removed in the country to foster innovation in the country.