The Indian government is now all set to implement free roaming in the country from 2013. However, Indian telecom giant Bharti Airtel said that issues like varied spectrum pricing and tariff in different circles needed to be studied before such facilities are introduced.
Sanjay Kapoor, the CEO of Bharti Airtel said, “The issue has to be viewed holistically. Its not just about one part, it includes STD. We have to look at the 22 circles in the country. Every state has different spectrum pricing. Tariffs are different”. Kapoor added that only when all the problems have been studied, can one comment on the issue.
Telecom minister Kapil Sibal said in the month of September 2013 that mobile phone subscribers will not pay roaming charges from 2013, with the implementation of “one nation, free roaming”, which was announced earlier in 2012. The new ‘National Telecom Policy 2012’ was approved in the month of May, 2012 and aims to abolish roaming charges, as well as allowing mobile subscribers to use the same number across the country, without having to pay extra charges for the service after they are out of the telecom circle.
In regards to the reduction of reserve spectrum for four circles, Kapil said that he is not in a position to comment.
