Chidambaram Hopes Privatisation Process Will Not Be Hit

Under Indias telephone privatisation programme, the previous Congress government awarded licences to dozens of private joint ventures, involving Indian and foreign companies, to operate cellular and basic services.

A fourth round of bidding to grant basic service licences in remaining zones has not yet been scheduled. I hope none of the earlier decisions will be reconsidered now, he said.

Chidambaram said. I hope that those who have been given licences will move forward to implement those licences.

The minister said he was not aware of any impact from the suspected scandal on the privatisation process. But I hope that the process will not be stalled, he said.

 

Chidambaram said the liberalisation of the telecommunications sector was high on the 13-party United Front governments agenda and it would ensure that the process moved forward.

The process of liberalisation in the telecommunications sector and introduction of private investments in the basic telecommunications services must go forward and I am confident that it will go forward, Chidambaram said.