Date:11/11/2005 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2005/11/11/stories/2005111102930900.htm

Back Industry lauds Govt's decision to ease norms for NLD/ILD players

Our Bureau

New Delhi , Nov. 10

THE telecom industry on Thursday welcomed the Government's decision to lower the entry barrier and reduce revenue share for long distance services, saying the move would ensure plurality of long distance players and lead to further fall in tariffs.

Welcoming the decision, Mr Sunil Mittal, Chairman of Bharti Televentures, India's largest private telecom company, said: "We welcome the announcement made by the Government. We see this will benefit the customer and is a step in the right direction for driving the growth of telecommunication in the country." Mr T.V. Ramachandran, Director General, Cellular Operators Association of India, said that the lower entry fee for STD and ISD would facilitate easy access into long distance segment, which in turn would lead to a plurality of long distance players, help expand the scale and availability of services and ensure further fall in tariffs for STD calls.