Cell firms endorse unified licence

The Cellular Operators' Association of India today gave its nod for a unified telecom licence regime.

In its response to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India's consultation paper on unification of licences, the Cellular Operators' Association of India has said, "All communications facilities and services should be permitted under one single unified telecom licence.

This is necessary to avoid future litigation where one category of operators is able to use its existing infrastructure to provide services reserved for another category of operators.

The COAI does not favour a class licence system.

The COAI has said that the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India must ensure that none of the existing operators must be in a worse off situation.

"The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India must independently assess and recommend a registration charge for a unified telecom licence. This fee must then be used as the benchmark and all operators must be equated around this benchmark. The excess amount paid by the existing operators must be adjusted either in the form of one time lump sum refunds, reduced revenue share of licence fee, waiver of licence fees, etc., till the amount to be refunded is fully adjusted."

COAI has also proposed inter circle connectivity across service areas.

"This will not only remove some of the competitive disadvantages for stand-alone operators vis-à-vis the integrated operators, but will also result in increased competition, lowering of long-distance tariffs and growth of services."