Another Post by Abhinandan - one of our Interns and a student of BITS Pilani. (If you want to have a look at his pretty face - then see our post on the WATTeam’s New Office) 

 

All you Soap opera fans, it’s time to rejoice. After weeks of silence on the 3-G spectrum issue, The Great Indian Telecom Saga has come alive again. It seems that the two caretakers of the Indian telecom industry [DoT & TRAI] are just not able to keep their hands off each other’s throats. This time the reason is the entry of foreign players [as if they needed one].

 

DoT is in favor of allowing foreign players in the 3G segment, while TRAI says it should be limited to existing players. And TRAI doesn’t stop at that [nothing unusual about it I guess]. It  goes on to justify it’s ridiculous stand by saying that permitting foreign players would negatively affect the affordability of services. Come on now! Can there be statement more preposterous than this one.  Just come to think of it. The dirt cheap mobile services that we Indians are able enjoy have been made possible largely by foreign players. Whether it be SingTel through BhartiAirtel or Hutchison Whampoa through HutchisonEssar, each one played it’s part in the success story.

 

Still not satisfied, TRAI  has even  written a letter to the Finance Secretary cautioning the ministry over permitting foreign players in 3G services and also to the Telecom Secretary, saying there would be enough competition among the existing mobile operators . I think that TRAI is determined to make a fool of itself and wont relent until it manages to do so.

 

Meanwhile Communication and IT Minister has discussed the matter with Prime Minister and Finance Minister, but the outcome of the meetings was not known.

 

I think the main reason why Dot is desperately trying to rope in foreign players is to get the precious spectrum appropriately valued. And I am damn sure that the entry of foreign players, the coffers of Govt exchequer will be bursting at it’s seams.

 

The government is likely to refer the issue of participation of foreign companies and new domestic companies in the 3G spectrum auction to an empowered group of ministers (eGoM) for a final decision as differences between Dot and TRAI persisted.

 

Between all this hoopla, there’s still a silver lining left.  The government is planning to start 3G telecom services by January next year. 3G helps to simultaneously transfer both voice data (a telephone call) and non-voice data (such as downloading information, exchanging e-mail, and instant messaging. The highlight of 3G is video telephony.  3G services will enable video broadcast and data-intensive services such as stock transactions, e-learning and telemedicine through wireless communications .This means that very soon we will be able to share not just voice messages but also complex data through our mobile phones. Let’s Hope that TRAI doesn’t ruin the party before it begins. 

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