Reliance, Tatas like TRAI plan

Mumbai: Reliance Infocomm and Tata Teleservices have welcomed Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) recommendations on unified licensing. In a statement issued here, Reliance said the recommendations will end the "licence raj in the telecom sector."

According to TRAI recommendations, Reliance Infocomm will have to pay Rs 1,580 crore for migrating to the unified licensing scheme. This includes a penalty of Rs 485 crore for violating the fixed phone licence held by Reliance by providing "cellular type" services. "Reliance will abide with all the decisions of the Indian government in this regard," the statement added.

Tata Teleservices called the recommendations "very progressive and fair" and a step in the right direction. "We also hope that this will make way for a more consistent regulatory environment."