Telecom
minister Ravi Shankar Prasad feels that record earnings in spectrum
auction display the confidence of mobile operators in India's
communications story and bring out the "enormous business potential" in
the market.
Having secured Rs 1.1 lakh crore for the exchequer, Prasad wants the industry to now improve the quality of services offered to consumers as their spectrum holdings go up after the auction.
He tells TOI that the government has laid out a "transparent, enabling and credible auction process," which has been the result of a massive confidence-building exercise both within the government as well as the outside stakeholders:
Are you surprised with the record earnings?
We had introduced an element of transparency and quick decision-making for this auction. There were a lot of enablers that we had thrown in such as introduction of 3G airwaves after successful negotiations with defence; putting up the highest quantity for sale at 471MHz across four bands; liberalization of 800MHz spectrum; clarity on spectrum usage charges; and flexibility on earnest money deposit.
Now that the companies will get higher spectrum holdings, do you think it's time that consumers get a better deal?
Lax services will not be tolerated. I appeal to all the private telecom operators to address the consumers' concern of call drops by improving their services after the infusion of new spectrum. They need to remember that consumer satisfaction is the best barometer for their growth.
Telecom industry associations as well as operators say that prices have been too high...
This is not a correct view. India is a very thriving market proposition for telecommunications and the players know about this. We have over 97 crore mobile phone connections, we are home to one of the biggest consumer base for Google and Facebook and we offer more than 300 million internet connections. The government's 'Digital India' programme will add further to the prospects once it becomes operational.
Telcos say tariffs need to go up to fund spectrum purchase. Do you agree?
The auctions have shown that all misgivings about scarcity of spectrum, its cost as well as other concerns have turned out to be incorrect. About impact on tariffs, I maintain that the burden on players will be negligible at about 1.3 paise per connection per minute call.
Telcos help keep fisc deficit in check
Telcos on Tuesday made early payment of spectrum money to bridge the fiscal deficit in the current financial year. Till the time of going to press, the government received Rs 10,808 crore as part-payment and this includes Rs 4,725 crore from Bharti Airtel, Rs 2,518 crore from Reliance Jio, Rs 1,935 crore from Idea Cellular, Rs 1,030 crore from Vodafone and Rs 600 crore from Tata Teleservices.
Having secured Rs 1.1 lakh crore for the exchequer, Prasad wants the industry to now improve the quality of services offered to consumers as their spectrum holdings go up after the auction.
He tells TOI that the government has laid out a "transparent, enabling and credible auction process," which has been the result of a massive confidence-building exercise both within the government as well as the outside stakeholders:
Are you surprised with the record earnings?
We had introduced an element of transparency and quick decision-making for this auction. There were a lot of enablers that we had thrown in such as introduction of 3G airwaves after successful negotiations with defence; putting up the highest quantity for sale at 471MHz across four bands; liberalization of 800MHz spectrum; clarity on spectrum usage charges; and flexibility on earnest money deposit.
Now that the companies will get higher spectrum holdings, do you think it's time that consumers get a better deal?
Lax services will not be tolerated. I appeal to all the private telecom operators to address the consumers' concern of call drops by improving their services after the infusion of new spectrum. They need to remember that consumer satisfaction is the best barometer for their growth.
Telecom industry associations as well as operators say that prices have been too high...
This is not a correct view. India is a very thriving market proposition for telecommunications and the players know about this. We have over 97 crore mobile phone connections, we are home to one of the biggest consumer base for Google and Facebook and we offer more than 300 million internet connections. The government's 'Digital India' programme will add further to the prospects once it becomes operational.
Telcos say tariffs need to go up to fund spectrum purchase. Do you agree?
The auctions have shown that all misgivings about scarcity of spectrum, its cost as well as other concerns have turned out to be incorrect. About impact on tariffs, I maintain that the burden on players will be negligible at about 1.3 paise per connection per minute call.
Telcos help keep fisc deficit in check
Telcos on Tuesday made early payment of spectrum money to bridge the fiscal deficit in the current financial year. Till the time of going to press, the government received Rs 10,808 crore as part-payment and this includes Rs 4,725 crore from Bharti Airtel, Rs 2,518 crore from Reliance Jio, Rs 1,935 crore from Idea Cellular, Rs 1,030 crore from Vodafone and Rs 600 crore from Tata Teleservices.
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