The move is being considered after growing clamour from competing 4G operators for a level playing field in relation to Qualcomm.
According to data from the Central Electricity Authority, the stock at 30 plants, with a total capacity of about 26,320 Mw, is at a critical level (would last less than seven days).
An apex committee under DoT Secretary R Chandraskehar has been set up to oversee the required policy decisions and institutional framework for an alliance between the two public sector undertakings which have been incurring losses.
Bharti Airtel subscribers would soon be able to withdraw cash by using their mobile phone, without going to bank branches or any ATM. The company, which recently launched Airtel Money (AM) to allow users to transfer money, as well as pay bills, is in discussion with various banks to launch the cash withdrawal service.
On February 2, the court had ordered the cancellation of 122 licences issued in January 2008 under then telecom minister, A Raja, and directed the government to conduct the auction of vacated 2G spectrum in four months.
The 1986-founded company is in the process of appointing a consultant for formulating the future plan of action for its CDMA business.
To speed up the vacation of additional 2G and 3G telecom spectrum, the government will likely make a Rs 5,000-crore (Rs 50 billion) provision in the Budget for an alternative network for defence services. The spectrum released in lieu of that would increase the availability for civilian use.
We are not a fly-by-night operator, says Sandip Das.
DoT has stated in an internal note that the 3G roaming agreements between these three companies are tantamount to their becoming mobile virtual network operators, something not allowed under the current policy.
Proposes conversion of Rs 1 lakh crore cumulative losses into bonds or loans.
According to a senior company official, BSNL is in the process of appointing recovery agents on a commission basis to bring back the money.
The Department of Telecommunications is planning to give more powers to the telecom regulator, Telecom Regulatory Authority of India, in the new telecom policy, including the power to impose financial penalties on the erring telecom service providers.
The New Telecom policy 2011 and the Spectrum Act are expected to address these concerns.
The exercise is ostensibly for security reasons and to prevent misuse of the freedom of speech in cyberspace.
The new telecom policy-2011 is also expected to come out with new norms for mergers and acquisitions, enhancing rural coverage, and spectrum allocation, among other things.
This means the regulator can bring rates under regulation once again. Currently, the rates are determined by market forces.
In talks with Nigeria, Kenya & Niger for development of transmission system.
The issue of which technology to use in wireless broadband services, TD-LTE or WiMax, is becoming keener.
This will enable security agencies to tap any call, real-time chat and data without help from the operators.
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