New Telecom policy 2011, which is still on draft is planning for bringing down domestic roaming, as it is looking for 1 country - 1 circle policy. It will eventually offer mobile number portability to users beyond home circle.
As per the reports on ET The new policy, scheduled to be unveiled by the year-end, also proposes to expand mobile number portability and allow consumers to retain their numbers when they move to a new city or any location in the country without having to pay roaming charges.
At present, MNP, the facility that allows customers to retain their mobile number while switching operators, is restricted to a circle.
Our Take:
Certainly operators will oppose it, as from roaming they get around 10% revenue (which is some thousand crore). But TRAI & DoT must be enough courageous to implement the same. It will create a better sector for telecom industry with less fragmentation.
For consumers it would be a win-win situation as no roaming charge & most flexible MNP system waiting for them.
So whats your take on New Telecom Policy do you think will it be Operators Nightmare or Subscriber Friendly what other changes do you want to see in the New Policy do let us know via comments.
