The Proposed telecom policy for 2011 is aimed at scraping domestic roaming charges as it is looking forward a single country single circle policy. It also plans to offer mobile number portability to users beyond home circle.
According to a recent press report, on the country’s leading news paper Economic Times, the Government plans to implement new policy towards the end of this year. The policy draft also says that it intend to allow consumers to retain their numbers while they migrate or travel to a new city or location within the country without any roaming charges. It also wants to permit number portability beyond home circles.
The major telco’s will oppose the policy as it has a direct impact on their revenue. It is estimated that mobile operators generate 10% revenue (which is some thousand crore) from roaming charges, but for customers it promises cost effectiveness and flexibility.