Sibal unveils plans for `transparent' telecom policy

Telecom minister Kapil Sibal has announced plans to formulate a new and comprehensive `National Telecom Policy 2011', in an effort to infuse greater transparency into the sector.

He said the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) will hold consultations with key stakeholders to evolve a clear and transparent regime covering licensing, spectrum allocation, tariffs and pricing, linkage with roll out performance, flexibility within licences, spectrum sharing, spectrum trading, MVNOs, unlicensed bands, M&A.

The policy will be framed in the context of an evolving technology environment, after due consideration of TRAI recommendations, communications minister Kapil Sibal said. 

He said the policy would focus on the common man.

In order to ensure availability of spectrum for telecom industry, the telecom ministry will initiate a dialogue with the department of space, ministry of information and broadcasting and the defence ministry as also PSUs on vacation of spectrum.

The policy will also look at identification of defence band and defence interest zones.