The board, on the urging of six independent members, had earlier turned down a government directive to commit at least 80 per cent supply to power companies.
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.
The recommendation, if implemented, could severely dent coal miners' bottom line.
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.
Wondering why rail traffic congestion does not ease, power cuts are frequent or why mining continues to be a laggard despite investments? The answer to all such questions is cost overruns.
Demands include clearing eight critical coal blocks attached to projects of big corporate houses.
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.
The Bill also envisages ushering in a regime of royalty concessions for the first time in the country.
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.
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