(31 May 2012 7:10 pm)

NEW DELHI: Repositioning of the mobile phone as an instrument of empowerment, "Broadband For All” at a minimum download speed of 2 Mbps, convergence of network, services and devices and liberalisation of spectrum are some of the salient points of the National Telecom Policy and Unified Licensing Regime for 2012.

The policy, approved by the Union Cabinet today, seeks to provide a predictable and stable policy regime for a period of about ten years. It will be operationalised by bringing out detailed guidelines, as may be considered appropriate, from time to time.

Implementation will enable smooth implementation of the policies for providing an efficient telecommunication infrastructure taking into account the primary objective of maximising public good by empowering the people of India.

The policy will further enable taking suitable facilitatory measures to encourage existing service providers to rapidly migrate to the new regime in a uniformly liberalised environment with a level playing field.

The Cabinet also approved introduction of Unified Licence and authorised the Department of Telecommunications to finalise the new Unified Licensing regime with the approval of Minister of Communications & IT.

The policy envisions providing secure, reliable, affordable and high quality converged telecommunication services anytime, anywhere for an accelerated inclusive socio-economic development. The main thrust of the Policy is on the multiplier effect and transformational impact of such services on the overall economy.