Recognising the convergence of voice, data, internet telephony and video into a single device globally, the draft New Telecom Policy, 2011, has set high goals of achieving convergence of legal, regulatory and licensing framework in a time-bound manner. The aim under the new draft policy is to move towards the unified licence regime in order to exploit the benefits of convergence.
Under the proposed draft policy, there would be convergence of broadcasting and value-added services with voice, data, and video in one single device. There will also be a convergence of networks ie convergence of access network, carriage network and broadcast network. ?We will support the initiatives undertaken by the ministry of information and broadcasting towards the digitalisation of cable networks,? telecom minister Kapil Sibal said, while announcing the NTP 2011 draft policy guidelines.
?A migration path will also have to be provided for existing licensees to Unified Licence Regime,? Sibal said.
NTP 2011 also strives to establish a new licensing regime taking care of the requirements of level playing field, roll-out obligations, policy on merger & acquisition and non-discriminatory interconnection, while ensuring adequate competition. It will also aim to promote introduction of area-specific services and applications.
The proposed draft policy also aims at allowing sharing of networks and delinking the licensing of networks from the delivery of service to the end users so as to facilitate faster roll out of services across the country. This move, according to the telecom minister, will enhance the quality of service and optimise the investment while addressing the issue of the digital divide.
?This will also facilitate increased competition in the telecom sector without putting any entry barrier in setting up of networks by new operators and at the same time allowing the existing operators to increase their network utilisation by sharing the network facilities,? Sibal said.
The NTP 2011 also envisages technology-neutral unified licences and divides them into two categories: Network Service Operator (NSO) and Service Delivery Operator (SDO). While NSO would be licensed to set up and maintain converged networks capable of delivering various types of services like voice, data, video, broadcast, IPTV and VAS, in a non-exclusive and non-discriminatory manner, the SDO would be licensed to deliver any/all services including tele-services (voice, data, video), internet/broadband, broadcast services, IPTV, value-added service and content delivery services among others.