Make telecom policy transparent, pleads Vodafone

Apparently fed up with the government's flip-flops on the telecom policy front, Vodafone Essar, India's second-largest mobile services provider, on Monday shot off a letter to telecom minister Kapil Sibal asking for consistency and continuity in regulatory actions.

In response to the government seeking feedback on a new policy, Vodafone Essar said it hoped that lacunae in the regulatory environment would be addressed to make policy more robust and transparent.

The broad framework of the new telecom policy (dubbed NTP 2011) has already been announced by Sibal; who he is awaiting industry reactions before the policy takes final shape.

The UK-based Vodafone (itself embroiled in a regulatory mesh over its bid to take over its Indian partner Essar) was the quickest to respond, shooting off a well-publicised (and well-timed) missive to the telecom ministry.

"The new policy must not only realise the importance of a good regulatory foundation but also ensure its implementation," the telecommunications major said in the letter.

Pointing out various inconsistencies on the regulatory front, it said clarity on these issues will help ensure confidence of stakeholders, which is imperative to facilitate large investments in the key sector.