Trai welcomes OneIndia plan

Welcoming the concept of uniform call rates across India, proposed by Communications and IT Minister Dayanidhi Maran, the telecom regulator, Trai today said this was a progressive step and it would take Indian telecom sector to new highs.

"It is a positive step", Pradip Baijal, chairman, Trai said today. The concept, known as "OneIndia", which calls for a uniform rate across India regardless of distance, has wider tariff implications as access deficit charge, interconnections and standard tariffs all need to be reworked apart from changing licensing terms and conditions which currently allow only the national long distance players to carry inter-circle traffic.

Asked if such a move should have been under Trai's ambit, Baijal said "The government has powers over Trai. They can lay down any policy or can give broader policy directions on any matter".

Trai had earlier given some suggestions on unified licensing regime wherein an operator could offer all kinds of services including NLD, broadcasting, by paying certain entry fee under one licence. The government is yet to decide on this.

Earlier, Trai had issued some recommendations on the issue of spectrum allotments where it had suggested setting up of a group of ministers to oversee the implementation of the suggestions which was described by Dayanidhi Maran as "exceeding the mandate".