Date:25/06/2005 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2005/06/25/stories/2005062500280700.htm

Back TRAI pushes for next gen systems to expand mobile market

Our Bureau

New Delhi , June 24

THE Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) is chalking out an intensive strategy to expand the addressable market for mobile phones to 75 per cent by the end of 2007 from the present level of 20 per cent.

In order to achieve the target of 200 million mobile telephones by 2007, the telecom regulator plans to recommend to the Ministry of Communications to put in place Next Generation Networks System, according to the Chairman, TRAI, Mr Pradip Baijal.

In a Paper on `Indian telecom sector: It's time for the next push' contributed for the JRD Tata Memorial Lecture to be organised by the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Mr Baijal said that the developing countries had already acquired such mobile coverage and that India could not afford to live with the current tele-density, which ranges between 20-25 per cent.

Mr Baijal said that the focus of the government should be to establish next generation networks to develop more new services with increased flexibility than what the traditional network offers. Such networks would also offer opportunity for third-party service providers to develop and operate services, which would immensely benefit consumers.