The policy envisages provision of internet access to all district headquarters in a year's time, making telephone available on demand within the next three years and converting public call offices (PCOs) into multimedia capable public tele-info centres.

The sub-group has also suggested that a modern and efficient telecommunications infrastructure needs to be created taking into account the convergence of information technology, media, telecom and consumer electronics with the purpose of making India an information technology super power.

Research and developemental efforts in the country should be strengthened to provide an impetus to build world class manufacturing capabilities, thepanel said. The panel also suggested that efficiency and transparency should be achieved in spectrum management and Indian telecom companies should be enabled to become truly global players.

The report has suggested that the telecom sector should be transformed into a competitive environment in a time bound manner, in both urban and rural areas, providing equal opportunities and level playing field for all players.On specific targets, the panel said that a telephone connection should be made available on demand by 2002 and be sustained thereafter so that a tele-density of seven by year 2005 and 15 by year 2010 was achievedDevelopment of telecom in rural areas should be encouraged making it more affordable by suitable tariff structure and making rural communication mandatory for all fixed service providers.

The panel said rural tele-density should be increased from the current level of 0.4 to four by 2010 and reliable transmission media in all rural areas should be provided. The percentage of revenueshare shall be applicable on the gross cellular mobile revenue earned by the CMSP. The paper has proposed that the appropriate level of entry fee and revenue share arrangement for different service areas would be recommended by TRAI in time-bound manner by June 30, 1999.