Partial Opening Of Nld Market Likely
The National Long Distance (NLD) market may be opened up on a limited basis rather than the free-for-all market envisaged in the recommendations of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI).
Department of Telecom-munications (DoT) secretary Shyamal Ghosh indicated here yesterday that the essential idea carried forward from the TRAI report was to have only serious players in the market. "While the entry criteria should be an open process, with transparent selection criteria, there could be some way of further weeding out non-serious players," he said. Ghosh pointed out that bidding within the few selected players was an option. He however, said that the Telecom Commission, which took up the matter on Wednesday was yet to take a final view on the subject.
However, if the final view, slated to be taken within the next two-three weeks, should be different from the TRAI recommendations, the matter could be referred back to the regulator under the TRAI Amendment Ordinance 2000, Ghosh said.
Ghosh also said that some issues had arisen on opening up of the intra-circle long distance market to the NLD operators. Existing licences could create a roadblock for the opening up of the intra circle market, he said.
On the new telecommunications legislation that is being drafted by a the Fali Nariman committee, Ghosh said that it would have to look ahead to the convergence of electronics, telecommunications and television. "Our policies can no longer look only at tele-density, but also an increase in penetration of computers and televisions," he said.
On the recent decision of the government to grant a further extension up to March 15 to pay their dues Ghosh said, "this is the final extension. If they fail to provide the bank guarantees on February 29, we will take this as an indication that they do not wish to come on board".
On the contention that the government was going soft on the private operators, he said "cancelling licences would not increase tele-density". Ghosh also said that the Attorney General opinion on the grant of the migration package to cancelled licences, had been received and that a decision would be taken shortly.