A day after the government gave nod to a relief package for financially-stressed telecom sector, the Telecom Minister Manoj Sinha has said that the telecom companies now need to focus on improving services for the consumers instead of fighting among themselves.
The Telecom Minister further listed the benefits of the government’s decision, noting that the move will help in consolidation, drive investments and improve the ease of doing business in the sector along with immediate relief to the telecom companies. Besides, he said that the services would also get improved, as the move will ensure that the companies get contiguous spectrum.
Manoj Sinha also noted that some effect will also be seen on the state of call drops, but with relaxing spectrum caps the issue of call drops will get eradicated will not be correct. He further highlighted the government’s efforts to help the sector even it bound by the rules, regulations and timeline for spectrum auctions.
The Union Cabinet gave telcos 16 years to pay for spectrum, excluding a two-year moratorium, from 10 years previously and also relaxed the spectrum holding limit for telecom companies to 35% from 25% at present.