The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has suggested formulating a single tariff for each licence holder across the country, implementing mobile number portability on an all-India basis and eliminating roaming charges.
Currently, the country is divided into 22 circles. Each circle has its own tariff structure. Number portability is permitted only within a circle and subscribers have to pay a roaming fee for using telecom services outside their home circles.
These proposals have been supported by the various committees set up by DoT to finalise the new telecom policy. The DoT committees have also suggested that the use of spectrum should be service neutral. This means that the spectrum being auctioned should not be linked to any service and operators should be free to use it for any service.
The committees have also pushed for the establishment of a nationwide call centre and a number for emergency services. The committees have also suggested that access to broadband should be made a fundamental right.
