The National Telecom Policy 2011 may divide mobile permits into two categories, network service provider (NSP) and end user service provider (ESP).
NSP will be held by companies that provide communication and broadcasting infrastructure, while companies with ESP can provide voice, data and broadcast service.
The policy may also alter the existing rules on infrastructure sharing to enable operators to share hardware, software and spectrum.
The National Telecom Policy 2011 will replace the existing one that has been in place since 1999. Meanwhile, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has established eight different committees to formulate a draft framework for the new policy, each handling a specific section.
In its report, the internal committee that was examining spectrum related issues, has rejected the concept of allowing operators to trade airwaves with each other and said that the government must be the final authority of awarding, selling and taking back airwaves.
It has also proposed that a spectrum fund be set up to bear costs of farming of airwaves and compensating incumbent non-commercial users, such as government departments, police and the para-military forces.
The policy may also eliminate the existing stringent merger and acquisition rules, delink allocation of telecom licences from mobile spectrum and may also set targets for rural telephony.
