In a move that would set the roadmap for functioning and development of telecom sector beginning 2012, the government is all set to give its nod to draft “National Telecom Policy (NTP) — 2012 and Unified Licencing Regime”.
Revealing this sources in the government said, “The Union Cabinet at its meeting on Thursday, which will be chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, is likely to consider the draft National Telecom Policy –2012 and the Unified Licencing Regime, as the issue is high on agenda of the proposed meeting.”
According to sources the NTP-2012 proposes to de-link spectrum from licences and reduce the number of different licences used for providing various kinds of services using the airwaves. “The new policy will also give corporate entities in the sector liberal mergers and acquisition norms and remove the provision of existing roaming charges for mobile users,” sources said, adding that the users of mobile phones would be allowed to retain the same number across the country apart from availing the existing number portability system.
As the telecom sector regulator Trai has suggested implementation of unified licenses, the Union Cabinet at its meeting is also expected to consider this. Sources said, “As per the draft note it would mean that licenses will be de-linked from spectrum and would issued to all new companies entering sector under NTP- 2012.”
Incidentally, the NTP-2012 and the guidelines there in would prove to be crucial for the telecom companies, whose licenses have been cancelled by the Supreme Court in February 2012.
Once the new regime is approved telecom companies can apply for telecom licences without owning spectrum and can perform businesses that can be carried out without using paid spectrum.
Trai had recommended one time non-refundable entry fee for unified licences, which shall be `15 crores for national level, `1 crore for each service area, except for Jammu and Kashmir and the Northeast service areas, where entry fee will be `50 lakh each. At the district level, the unified licence can be bought with non-refundable entry fee of `10 lakh.