DoT begins work on new telecom policy

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has commenced work on the National Telecom Policy 2005 (NTP 2005). The first draft of the policy is expected to be brought out in a couple of months. The new policy would be a "revisiting" of the former policy - NTP 1999 - which came into effect from April 1, 1999.

NTP 2005 is slated to be a comprehensive policy, including various aspects of the telecom sector like access, technology equipment manufacturing and spectrum management.

Quality of Service (QoS) and research & development (R&D) would also be the thrust areas in the new policy, sources close to the deal told Business Standard.

DoT has started circulating a note to all players in the industry, seeking inputs and comments from stakeholders for the proposed policy. The first draft of NTP-2005 would be the basis on which further discussions would take place with the stakeholders.

The telecom sector is witnessing an unprecedented growth in terms of access, technology and QoS. It is one of the thrust areas being monitored by the prime minister. The ministry of communications and information technology had announced its intention to have the policy in place in the next three-four months time.

NTP 1999 was to be reviewed and upgraded, after soliciting views from the industry and stakeholders. The policy also proposed to develop telecom facilities in remote, rural and tribal areas, and making it affordable to masses.

Availability of telephones on demand by year 2002, achieving of teledensity of seven per 100 persons by the year 2005 and increase teledensity from 0.4 to four by year 2010 were the aim of the former policy.