Search the Internet          Tips  Sites: Finance, Investment

GoT-IT okays limited mobility for fixed-line phone firms

The Group on Telecom and IT on Friday gave the green signal to the contentious limited mobility service to basic operators at an affordable tariff of Rs 1.20 for three-minute outgoing calls and free incoming calls.

Wireless in local loop with limited mobility should be provided as part of the basic service licence as it was enabled in the New Telecom Policy 1999, the GoT-IT -- headed by Union Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha -- said in its report submitted to Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

It, however, ensured a level-playing field by slashing long distance revenue sharing for basic operators to 5 per cent from 60 per cent to bring it at par with cellular operators.

"This means that the present ratio of 60:40 for WiLL subscribers should be reduced to 5:95 in respect of those subscribers who use the facility of WiLL with limited mobility through hand-held sets," the group said.

It was clarified by the DoT that it would not be difficult to identify the subscribers using hand-held set of WiLL through the number system so as to ensure that accounts in respect of these subscribers are distinguished from other subscribers.

"The group recommends that if on this basis an arrangement could be arrived at to mutual satisfaction of the contending parties or otherwise be regulated or determined by Telecom Regulatory Authority of India, this would be seen to be fair particularly since the cellular operators have been given similar revenue sharing by long distance carriers by TRAI itself," it said.

The group, however, recognised that these issues fell within the jurisdiction of TRAI and said the GoT-IT was giving its assessment in response to the specific reference of the issue.

The group further recommended that short distance charging area, applicable for limited mobility, should be divided into three sub-categories-- rural, semi-urban and urban.

"For the purpose of coverage of SDCA it was felt that each of these categories should be equally covered for each phase of roll out prescribed, that is to say in the first phase, where 15 per cent of SDCA are to be covered in a circle, the operator should cover each of the three categories in equal proportions," it added.

Tell us what you think of this report