Hope NTP-2011 ends frequent changes in telecom rules: Mittal

Shifts in regulatory regimes hurting sustainability of sector

PTI | January 27, 2011



With the process of framing the New Telecom Policy 2011 underway, India's largest private telecom firm Bharti airtel today expressed hope this would put an end to frequent shifts in the regulatory regime, as it hurts the sustainability of the sector.

"What we want is that the shifts in regulatory regimes, which keep on happening during short-term, are avoided and that's what we expect in the National Telecom Policy, which is coming through," Bharti Group Chairman Sunil Mittal said at the World Economic Forum here.

Asked about a lot of negativity in the telecom sector in the wake of the 2G spectrum scam and how to handle these issues, he said, "We (telecom sector) have got a new minister (Kapil Sibal). We need to give him some time."

"He is sorting out many issues. He is trying to collect a lot of broken pieces. We need to wait for his final plan, as they say, hopefully in the form of National Telecom Policy 2011," Mittal said at the World Economic Forum.

Sibal had recently announced a 100-day agenda for the telecom sector, which also envisages formulation of a "clear and transparent" New Telecom Policy 2011, replacing the existing NTP of 1999.

The minister has already held consultations with various sections of the industry -- such as operators and equipment manufacturers -- to get their feedback and incorporate meritorious suggestions in the new policy.

Sibal has emphasised on three elements -- reasonable revenue for the government, affordable services for users and robust growth of the sector -- as the guiding principles for framing the new policy.

"We need to balance all these three elements," Sibal had said, adding that the government should not get revenue at the cost of industry, while industry should not make super-normal profits at the cost of consumers by keeping tariffs high.

"I am very hopeful that we will have a long runway in telecom after a long time... We can all (the industry) then take off in a way which is sustainable for the sector."

 

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