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Worried over differences among service providers, particularly, on the issue of spectrum allocation, the Telecom Minister, Mr Kapil Sibal, today asked them to soon sink their differences as otherwise it could adversely impact the growth of the sector.
During his meeting with various telecom operators, Mr Sibal discussed in detail issues ranging from spectrum sharing, mergers and acquisitions, annual spectrum usage charge and rising disputes among the telecom firms.
“Range of issues were on the table basically as you know that TRAI had given its recommendations way back in May last year and then its latest recommendations on spectrum management in February 2011.
“I have urged the stakeholders that the captains of the industry must get together and iron out the differences among themselves because no industry can be robust if it is fractious,” the Minister told reporters here today.
The Minister held consultations with stakeholders to evolve a clear and transparent regime covering licensing, spectrum allocation and other issues in the telecom sector.
“By the end of this month, the Minister has asked to give our recommendations to sort out differences existing in the industry,” the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) Director, Mr Rajan S. Mathew, said.
The recommendations given by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India on spectrum management and licensing framework, which earned criticism from most of the leading telecom players, was the centre of deliberations at the conference.
“Now these issues will be taken to the Telecom Commission and later the Government will take a decision on them. I have a 100 day agenda and I keep my 100 day agenda,” Mr Sibal added.
At the beginning of this year, Mr Sibal had initiated action to formulate comprehensive National Telecom Policy 2011 under his 100 days agenda.
Supporting the Telecom Minister’s views, the Bharti Airtel CEO, Mr Sanjay Kapoor, said: “there needs to be a level playing field and that is what matters and that is what we as operators are demanding’’.
The meeting was attended by various telecom chiefs including Bharti Airtel’s Mr Sanjay Kappor and Vodafone’s Mr T.V. Ramachandran.
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