Telecom stocks trade lower on the bourses

23 Nov 2011 Evaluate

Telecom stocks are trading on a lower note in the trade on buzz that DoT rejects proposals for liberal M&A norms.

Bharti Airtel is currently trading at Rs 361.80, down by 17.05 points or 4.50% from its previous closing of Rs 378.85 on the BSE. The scrip opened at Rs 374.50 and has touched a high and low of Rs 374.50 and Rs 361.80 respectively. So far 293783 shares were traded on the counter.

Idea Cellular is currently trading at Rs 91.40, down by 7.00 points or 7.11% from its previous closing of Rs 98.40 on the BSE. The scrip opened at Rs 98.00 and has touched a high and low of Rs 98.00 and Rs 91.30 respectively. So far 562768 shares were traded on the counter.

Mahanagar Telephone Nigam is currently trading at Rs 24.90, down by 1.00 points or 3.86% from its previous closing of Rs 25.90 on the BSE. The scrip opened at Rs 25.80 and has touched a high and low of Rs 25.80 and Rs 24.75 respectively. So far 103562 shares were traded on the counter.

The telecom department has rejected Telecom Regulatory Authority of India’s (TRAI) proposal for liberal merger and acquisition (M&A) rules to make consolidation easier in the 14-player ultra-competitive market. It has accepted the regulator's proposal to impose a one-time fee on incumbent GSM operators on their entire 'excess' spectrum, a move that will force operators' to shell out over 17,500 crore. The department has suggested that companies share 8% of their annual revenues with the government, despite Trai reiterating that this be reduced to 6%, bringing savings to the industry.

The Telecom Commission, the apex decision-making body of the communication ministry, and minister Kapil Sibal, must approve the department's decisions before it becomes part of policy. The Telecom Commission will meet on November 28, and experts warn that approval of the department's decisions could indefinitely delay recovery of India's beleaguered telecom industry that is fighting falling profits and revenues.

Earlier this month, TRAI recommended that mobile phone companies could merge their operations if the combined market share of the new entity is less than 60%, a substantial increase over the current 40% ceiling. But the telcom department panel examining TRAI’s recommendations has said that this could lead to a 'monopoly market situation' and has further suggested that the market share ceiling of the combined entity be reduced to 35%.

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