Missed call to free call: The 25-year journey of India's telecom industry

On July 31, 1995, mobile telephony began in India at Rs 16.80 a minute peak tariff. Now, most local voice calls are free, a market which has the largest subscriber base in the world after China

THE ROAD TO MOBILE REVOLUTION

1994: NTP allows pvt players in telecom, introduces mobile services. Licences given to firms in four metros 

1999: NTP shifts mobile players  from fixed licence fee to a revenue-sharing regime

2001: WLL-CDMA allowed 

2002: Tariff comes under forbearance. BSNL launches mobile services and Reliance Infocomm CDMA    

2004: ‘Calling-party pays’ regime adopted 

2006: FDI limit hiked from 49% to 74%

2008: ADC abolished. CDMA players awarded GSM licence and an average of six new operators allowed under first-come-first-served policy