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News >> Technology >>
U.S. slams India for protecting telecom market
By agencies
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Friday, 01 April 2005, 20:30 IST
WASHINGTON:Slamming India for "excessively protecting" its telecom market, the United States today threatened to vigorously enforce American "trade rights" in these countries.
"We are deeply concerned by the tepid commitment some of our trade partners have shown to competition in the telecommunications sector," acting U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Peter Allgeier said here.
"This is especially true in countries such as China, India and Japan where national operators are already competing on a global level, but remain protected at home by relatively closed markets," he said.
It is very hard to see a legitimate reason why these markets should not be open to full and effective competition, the USTR said.
"The United States will work vigorously to strengthen and enforce our trade rights in these countries and elsewhere," he said.
USTR said, last year, India made only marginal progress in resolving a complaint related to access to and use of submarine cable capacity.
"Unfortunately, problems persist based on the continued control by dominant international operator, VSNL, over access to all but one submarine cable landing station in India."
"USTR expects more vigorous oversight by the Indian regulatory body, TRAI, and the Government of India to ensure access to and use of submarine cable capacity through facilities now dominated by VSNL."