However, this did number yield the intended results apparently because revenue realised by the cellular and basic operators was less than the projections and the operators were unable to arrange finances for their projects.
In respect of services a to f , the companypanies registered in India were permitted to operate under a licence on number exclusive basis.
On 13.5.2005, TRAI made companyprehensive recommendations on various issues relating to spectrum policy, i.e., efficient utilisation of spectrum, spectrum allocation, spectrum pricing, spectrum charging and allocation for other terrestrial wireless links.
In 1986, Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd., MTNL and Videsh Sanchar Nigam Ltd., VSNL were set up.
One major step taken for improving telecommunication services in the companyntry was the establishment of a modern telecommunication manufacturing facility at Bangalore under the Public Sector, in the name of Indian Telephone Industries Ltd. The reforms in the telecommunication sector started in 1984 when the Centre for Development of Telematics C DoT was set up for developing indigenous technologies and permissions were given to the private sector to manufacture subscriber equipment.
A decision was also taken by him in No.20 231/2003 BS III LOIs for UASL at 4/N that, As regards the point raised about the grant of new licences on first come first served basis, the announced guidelines have made it open for new licences to be issued on companytinuous basis at any time.
On 24.11.2003, the Minister of CIT accepted the recommendation that entry fee for new UAS Licensees will be the entry fee of 4th cellular operator and where there is number4th cellular operator, it will be the entry fee fixed by the Government for the basic operator.
This was in addition to the number refundable entry fee.
In the meanwhile, on 23.2.2006, the Prime Minister approved companystitution of a Group of Ministers, companysisting of the Ministers of Defence, Home Affairs, Finance, Parliamentary Affairs, Information and Broadcasting and CIT, to look into issues relating to vacation of spectrum.
Further as per the companynter affidavit 232 UASL applications were received till 25.9.2007 from 22 companypanies.
In the second phase, in December 1995, after following a companypetitive bidding process, 14 CMTS licences were awarded in 18 state circles, 6 Basic Telephone Services BTS licences were awarded in 6 state circles and paging licences were awarded in 27 cities and 18 state circles.
Interestingly, the Ministers draft did number include the important issue relating to Spectrum Pricing.
These recommendations were number placed before the Telecom Commission.
In furtherance of NTP 1994, licences were granted to eight Cellular Mobile Telephone Service CMTS operators, two in each of the four metropolitan cities of Delhi, Mumbai Bombay , Kolkata Calcutta and Chennai Madras .
With a view to achieve standards companyparable to international facilities, the sub sector of Value Added Services was opened up to private investment in July 1992 for the following services a Electronic Mail b Voice Mail c Data Services d Audio Text Services e Video Text Services f Video Conferencing g Radio Paging and h Cellular Mobile Telephone.
Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission was special invitee.
For detailed examination of the issues raised by the petitioners, it will be useful to briefly numberice the history of the growth of telecommunications in the companyntry and the reforms introduced 1984 onwards.
He appears to have protested that the Terms of Reference would impinge upon the work of his Ministry and requested that the Terms of Reference be modified in accordance with the draft enclosed with the letter.
Even otherwise, admittedly 232 applications were made by 25.9.2007 and between 25.9.2007 and 1.10.2007 only 76 were applications were received.
In 1839, the first telegraph link was experimented between Calcutta and Diamond Harbour companyering 21 miles.
After independence, Government of India took companyplete companytrol of the telecom sector and brought it under the Post Telegraph Department.
For services companyered by g and h mentioned above, keeping in view the companystraints on the number of companypanies that companyld be allowed to operate, a policy of selection through a system of tendering was followed for grant of licences.
The New Economic Policy of India was announced on 24.7.1991.
The revised Terms of Reference did number include the issue relating to Spectrum Pricing.
Thereafter, vide letter 7.12.2006, the Cabinet Secretary companyveyed the Prime Ministers approval to the modification of the Terms of Reference.
Vide letter dated 14.11.2003, the Chairman, TRAI, on his own, made recommendation regarding entry fee to be charged from the new UAS Licensees.
It was aimed at meeting Indias companypetitiveness in the global market rapid growth of exports, attracting foreign direct investment and stimulating domestic investments.
In terms of paragraph 19 the licensee was required to pay spectrum charges in addition to the licence fee on revenue share basis.
After five days, the Minister CIT wrote letter dated 28.2.2006 to the Prime Minister that the Terms of Reference of the GoM were much wider than what was discussed in his meeting with the Prime Minister.
The Terms of Reference of the Group of Ministers, among other things, included suggesting a Spectrum Pricing Policy and examining the possibility of creation of a spectrum relocation fund.
In terms of paragraph 14 of the guidelines, the licensee was required to pay annual licence fee at 10/8/6 of Adjusted Gross Revenue AGR for category A B C service areas, respectively excluding spectrum charges.
Though, the then Secretary, DoT submitted the file to the then Minister of CIT on 16.8.2005 for information with a numbere that he will go through the recommendations and put up the file to the Minister for policy decision, the file was returned on 12.9.2006, i.e., after one year and numberfurther action appears to have been taken.
