Articles by T H Chowdary

The unleashing of private sector enterprise, initiative and competition in the telecom sector has yielded spectacular benefits for consumers. Further policy changes and greater transparency in the working of the regulatory bodies are now needed to keep pace with the rapid changes in the sector.

Telecommunications are witnessing the infusion of disruptive technologies. The convergence of computer, telecommunications and infrastructure for broadcasting is making information storage, distribution and use universally available and affordable. Against this background, the continuance of administratively separated service licences is anachronistic. However, the initial move of the TRAI to migrate only the basic, limited mobility and full mobility licences into the unified licence was not properly conceived. Fortunately, the TRAI has amended its consultation document to include NLD, ILD and Internet also. In the light of our own experience and more so that of other countries, we should now move all information services into a permissive unified licence with the simplest of conditions and lightest financial burdens.

The Indian telecommunication network and services have become a minefield where competing companies, some of them state-owned, are trying to get market share by exploiting various factors. How can the conflicts be resolved?

The upward revision of tariffs for fixed telephone services decreed by the TRAI is unwarranted, biased and objectionable on many grounds. In 1987 a national convention was held of all the stakeholders before we embarked on reforms in telecommunications. Since then many things have happened, some for the better and some for the worse. Statesmanship and justice for all stakeholders demand that there should be another well-planned and structured national convention on telecommunications and information technology.