Financial Daily from THE HINDU group of publications
Thursday, May 25, 2006
Financial Daily from THE HINDU group of publications Thursday, May 25, 2006 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Info-Tech
-
Telecommunications Industry & Economy - Infrastructure SEZs for telecom gear units likely Our Bureau
The convergence roadmap Target of 500 million phones by 2010. Public phones for all villages Postal sector reforms planned. Broadband coverage to schools, PHCs.
MR DAYANIDHI MARAN
New Delhi , May 24 The Communications and IT Minister, Mr Dayanidhi Maran, on Wednesday outlined the roadmap for the telecom sector which included a target of 500 million telephones by 2010, providing village public phones in the remaining 41,000 villages by March 2007 and setting up special economic zones for telecom equipment manufacturing units. Mr Maran said that the Government would come out with a policy on third generation (3G) mobile services after receiving recommendations from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India. Speaking at a press conference, Mr Maran said the Government will also work towards improving the quality of services being offered by the operators. On the controversy around the spectrum policy linked to subscriber base, Mr Maran said he would be meeting the operators individually to sort out the issues. The Tatas had raised concern over the policy through letters to the Prime Minister and the Department of Telecom. The Minister said postal sector reforms were also on the agenda including allowing the Department of Post to invest in the equity markets. "Amendment to the Indian Post Office Act will be made in such a way so as to address the needs of competition, convergence and other new developments through various postal reforms.
Broadband in schools
On the broadband services, the Minister said Mr Arjun Singh, Human Resources Development (HRD) Minister, had proposed for broadband connectivity to the secondary and higher secondary schools in the country. "We shall cover all secondary and higher secondary schools by broadband by the year 2007. All public health care centres will also be provided broadband coverage by the year 2007. All gram panchayats which are the lynch pin of our plan of de-centralisation of administration will get broadband connectivity by the year 2010," Mr Maran said. Responding to allegations of exaggerated subscriber numbers being reported by the operators, Mr Maran said the best of international practices are being followed in recording the user base and the Government was satisfied with the processes in place. On the merger of BSNL and MTNL, Mr Maran said that the final report of the consultants would be completed in the next two weeks after which DoT would take a view. He ruled out the possibility of an IPO or selling an equity stake in BSNL.
More Stories on : Telecommunications | Infrastructure
Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page
|
Stories in this Section |
|
The Hindu Group: Home | About Us | Copyright | Archives | Contacts | Subscription Group Sites: The Hindu | Business Line | Sportstar | Frontline | The Hindu eBooks | The Hindu Images | Home |
Copyright © 2006, The
Hindu Business Line. Republication or redissemination of the contents of
this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of
The Hindu Business Line
|