Dot Unplugged

This is expected to further fuel the ongoing cold war between TRAI and DoT. The department maintains that it holds all the licensing powers, and that TRAI is only empowered to settle disputes. VSNL, incidentally, stands to gain by the TRAI order. The government projections estimate an Internet subscriber base of 1.5-2 million by the year 2000, and with the delay in the entry of ISPs, VSNL and DoT will absorb all increase in demand for Internet services.