Asia Bizz: India’s telecom secretary R Chandrasekhar announced on November 16, 2011 that their new telecom policy would be unveiled in the month of January 2012. According to the draft telecom policy last month, India would allow the cellular carriers share airwaves and also allow the consolidation in a crowded industry.
Earlier, the consolidation along with the ferocious competition and the licensing scandals might have cost the capital up to $39 billion loss in revenue. Chandrasekhar added that it is currently in the process of issuing notices to the 35 license holders for not meeting the rollout obligations.
On the other hand, telecom regulators have also recommended the government to cancel the 38 licenses for failing to meet the rollout obligations only after legal examination. Even telecom minister Kapil Sibal mentioned that there are total of 119 licenses that have not met the rollout obligations.
The recommendations have been delayed, due to which the date of policy would be unveiled next year. Earlier the policy was expected to be announced in the month of December this year. The other licenses would now be cancelled only after they will be legally examined.
