The government on Tuesday extended the last date for receiving public comments on National Telecom Policy 2011 by a month to December 9 for having wider consultations.

"The Department of Telecommunications, Ministry of Communications and Information Technology has extended the last date for receiving feedback and comments on draft National Telecom Policy (NTP) 2011 to December 9, 2011," an official statement said.

The draft of the policy was unveiled by Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal on October 10 with a major thrust on transparency, an improved investment climate and promotion of consumer interest.

Last week Sibal said that industry has requested for more time to give their feedback and comments on the policy to which he had agreed.

Under the draft plan, the Telecom Ministry is looking to facilitate nation-wide free roaming, frame an exit policy for operators to surrender licences, give a push to indigenous manufacturing and promote an eco-system for development of a self-dependent telecom industry.