DoT to seek Cabinet nod for NTP 2012 by Mar-end

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The final version of new National Telecom Policy 2012, which will set the roadmap for the development of industry, will be moved for the Cabinet approval by month end, the Telecom Commission said on Wednesday.

The Telecom Commission is the apex decision making body of the Department of Telecommunications.

"The Telecom Commission has broadly approved National Telecom Policy. Now we will start process of sending it to Cabinet. By month end, we should be able to do so and expect approval of Cabinet by end of April," Telecom Commission chairman R. Chandrashekhar told agencies.

The NTP 2012 aims at providing free roaming to telecom users and allowing them to retain the mobile number even outside their circles without paying any extra charge.

At present, roaming is chargeable and mobile number portability is not permitted outside circle.

Under the new policy, government has set a target to achieve 175 million broadband connections by 2017 and 600 million by 2020 at faster download speed (minimum 2 Mbps).

The NTP 2012 will also delink licences from spectrum and all future licences will come under category of Unified Licences.

The new policy will have provision that will enable telecom players exit from the business under certain terms and condition that will be finalised later.