New telecom policy ready says Telecom Min

Union Telecom Minister Manoj Sinha on Tuesday said the new telecom policy is almost ready and will be brought in the next session of Parliament after a Cabinet nod.

"The new telecom policy is almost ready, and, this month, we will place it on department's website for public comments. We will bring it in the next session of Parliament," said Sinha told reporters.

Claiming that the government has been taking pro-industry decision, the minister said that recent decision of providing relief to the sector that entails giving more time to companies to pay for the spectrum they bought as well as liberalised spectrum caps - will ensure that the historic success of the sector continues unabated.

Earlier this month, the Cabinet allowed telcos to pay for spectrum over 16 years instead of 10 years and permitted them to hold more airwaves, in a bid to provide relief to the financially-stressed sector.