The communications ministry is working on a reconciliation package to settle disputes between the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), department of telecommunications (DoT) and Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd (MTNL), minister of state for communications Tapan Sikdar said.
Litigation between these entities should end, the minister told Business Standard. Sikdar said that he would involve the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), given the overall importance given to the sector by the Vajpayee government.
The ministry is planning to initiate a series of discussions with key players.
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TRAI chairperson Justice S S Sodhi, who met Sikdar yesterday, and DoT may prefer to present their views independently to the government, given that they are already adversaries in court.
Therefore, after an initial round discussions with DoT, MTNL and the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India, the ministry plans to convene a joint meeting later.
"In the meantime, several cases are already in court...they will go on ...but once we have a resolution, we will jointly inform the court".
The ministry's stand is a complete reversal of the position adopted by the previous incumbent, Jagmohan, who had said that the courts should be left to decide on disputed areas. Both Paswan and Sikdar have met TRAI representatives several times over the past weeks. The regulator has also forwarded its views on the TRAI's powers to the ministry.
Sikdar further said, "Among ourselves (DoT & TRAI), this type of litigation is not needed". Given that DoT would require a clearance from the ministry to file any litigation against TRAI, and the fact that the government, through communications ministry, controls equity in MTNL, the new position may have a bearing on future litigation.
Sikdar also said that the ministry was serious about involving private operators in extending connectivity to rural areas.
The Universal Service Obligation (USO) fund, which will be raised from private operators to fund roll out in rural areas, is being considered. The idea, which was mooted in NTP 99, may now be implemented.
Rural connectivity through mobile Public Call Offices (PCOs) is another option being examined, Sikdar said.
Networks of private cellular operators may now be used to offer telephone connections in remote areas.