Private NLD operators say no to new entrants
By agencies   |   Wednesday, 28 September 2005, 19:30 IST
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NEW DELHI: Three private sector National Long Distance operators have opposed the entry of new operators claiming their entry will harm expansion of telecom network in the country. The three operators- Bharti Tele-Ventures, Reliance and VSNL have asked the Department of Telecom not to relax the entry norms for new operators. They recently met DoT chairman and asked him not to relax the norms, as this will be against the interest of existing operators. The DoT had suggested reduction of the annual license fees to 6 percent of the revenue from 15 percent, reducing the one time entry fee for NLD operators to $5.6 million from $22 million and waiver of rollout obligation for NLD operators. This is what the old players don’t want to happen as they have made huge investments to create NLD infrastructure and will be at a disadvantage if new players are allowed to come in under the new rule.

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