Reforms 2.0 in works to create robust telecom companies, says Ashwini Vaishnaw

The government is working on a second set of reforms for the telecom sector aimed at creating strong mobile phone operators that can expand overseas while connecting the remotest corners of the country, communications minister Ashwini Vaishnaw told ET in an interview. This will follow policy changes announced two weeks ago aimed at relieving stress on the sector and helping to preserve the current market structure.

Vaishnaw, also the cabinet minister for information technology and railways, added that spectrum pricing should factor in the point about telecom services being for the “public good”. Thus, the pricing should also leave enough resources in the hands of operators to be able to invest in expanding their networks and providing quality services.