Outgoing Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) chief RS Sharma has said that the telecom sector, backed by strong demand for services and its ability to adapt swiftly to changes even amid Covid-19 disruptions, has a bright future ahead. He has full confidence in the professionalism of telecom operators and believes that competition is the name of the game and competitive pricing will continue in a free market economy.
Sharma said while every sector has its share of ups and downs and variations, the telecom industry has steered through the disruptive period during the pandemic, managing not only the spike in demand but also changes in the pattern of traffic, as network loads shifted from enterprise premises to homes. He also said that competitive pricing will continue in a free market economy. He pointed out that free-market economy has also brought major benefits like greater efficiencies, better services, and cost-effective measures.
He further said ‘I believe that the market takes care of itself. If there is a free play in the market, we should believe in the free market system, and unless there is a market failure, one should not intervene’. Speaking in favor of light-touch regulation, he said unless there is a market failure, one should not regulate unnecessarily.