Home > Business > PTI > Report
Keep up growth momentum, Shourie tells telecom players
March 26, 2003 20:19 IST
Amid the ongoing controversies in the telecom sector like wireless in local loop versus cellular, Communications and IT Minister Arun Shourie on Wednesday appealed to all the players to take steps to see that growth of the sector was not hampered and assured full support of government to remove impediments.
"Just get going... get out of the morass. Many impediments have been created for each other by the industry. Government is committed to resolve all problems with your (players) help," Shourie told reporters on the sidelines of a function organised in New Delhi by Bharti Group to celebrate the shipping of 20 millionth phone set of the company.
Asked whether government had initiated a further dialogue with the players, he said now the matter would be taken up in the Telecom Dispute Settlement and Appellate Tribunal and government would put its perspective on that forum.
He also asked the industry to think of an "ultimate" solution to the ongoing issues and said universal licence regime could provide an enduring solution.
"Universal licence regime is a natural point. We should all move towards it," he said adding it was too premature to talk about it at this moment.
He said the wireless advisor and other government officials had started exploring ways to modify defence equipment to see if spectrum could be released.
Shourie said Cabinet's decision to allow merger and de-merger of licences would help telecom companies to consolidate their businesses.
"The revenue for the government is not the objective for this decision. This has been allowed with certain conditions. Only difference is that this will be done through automatic route under section 391 of Companies Act," Shourie said.
He said merger and de-merger was a normal activity but in case of telecom it was not allowed.
The move, the Minister said, would help companies like Bharti and Reliance to consolidate their basic, cellular and other services.
Government should look for revenues in growth of the sector and not in stamp duties, he added.
© Copyright 2003 PTI. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of PTI content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent.
|