Question : TELECOM LICENCES TO NEW OPERATORS

(a) whether the Government has approved and implemented the recommendations of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) on the issue of licences to new private telephone operators for creating the competitive atmosphere in telecom sector in the country;

(b) if so, the main features of the recommendations and the action taken so far on these recommendations;

(c) if not, the reasons therefor;

(d) whether the telecom operators whose licences have been cancelled by the Supreme Court verdict are still utilising the spectrum and providing services;

(e) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor, company-wise and circle-wise; and

(f) the action taken by the Government against such operators and the penalty imposed/ likely to be imposed on them?

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI MILIND DEORA)

(a) to (c) TRAI submitted its recommendations dated 16.04.2012 on Unified License (UL). The Key features of recommendations are:-

(i) De-linking of spectrum from the license;

(ii) Unified license on National level, Service Area level and District level;

(iii) Classes license for service like VSAT, PMRTS, INSAT-MSS;

(iv) Licenses through authorization for voice mail, audio tax, video-tax and other value added services;

(v) Guideline for migration of existing licneses to new regime.

As a first step Unified License (Access Services) has been finalized for successful new entrants in the auction of spectrum in 900, 1800, 800 MHz bands.

After further examination of TRAI recommendations, it has been decided to grant Unified License with the option to the applicant to choose one or more than one or all services covered under Unified License, which also includes National Level services like NLD (National Long Distance), ILD (International Long Distance) etc. The UL is de-linked from the spectrum.

(d) to (f) Information is being collected.