The telecom mess

Govt needs to hand-hold the industry at a difficult time

As the countdown has begun for the worst phase so far for the telecom industry, the government’s inaction is surprising. And there is no sign that anybody is listening to the industry that has enjoyed star status in attracting money and talent ever since India got hooked to mobile telephony. Along with reports of fire sales and shutdown of telecom companies, the fear of significant job losses in an already slowing economy is becoming real. Estimates put direct job losses at telecom companies at 35,000, of which a few thousand employees have already been handed pink slip as firms seek