Telecom firms may pay Rs1000/unverified user

Telecom operators may face a penalty of minimum Rs 1000 for each unverified subscriber, Communication and IT Minister Dayanidhi Maran said here today.

Department of Telecom had earlier ordered cellular companies to complete verification of subscribers by March 31.

Maran also said national roaming charges are likely to come down drastically.

The minister said he expects to achieve the 2007-end target 250 million connections within the next 3-4 months.

Besides, the number of connections is targeted to double to 500 million by 2010, he said.