Dayanidhi Maran bags award from world GSM body

New Delhi, Feb 13: The GSM Association (GSMA), the global trade body representing more than 700 mobile operators, presented its Government Leadership Award 2007 to India for exceptional achievement in the field of mobile communications policy.

India has been selected because of its success in establishing a framework of policies and regulations, which have enabled and stimulated the growth of mobile telecommunications over the past three years.

The latest data from the Indian government shows that India's mobile operators are now collectively adding around 6-7 million new subscribers each month.

The award was presented to Communications and IT Minister Dayanidhi Maran, by Mr Rob Conway, CEO and board member of the GSMA at Barcelona.

The Indian Government's policies have not only helped revive, but also stimulate the country's mobile industry, whose growth, only a few years ago, was stifled due to various challenges. Since then, the Government has transformed the policy and regulatory environment by relaxing rules on foreign direct investment (FDI), raising the limit for foreign investment in a telecoms company from 49 per cent to 74 per cent.

It also has reduced the access deficit charges payable by mobile operators to the fixed line incumbents and liberalised the domestic and international long distance markets and facilitated the sharing of network infrastructure.

It has also simplified and speeded the planning procedures for new cell sites and increased the amount of commercially available spectrum and secured spectrum for 3G in the IMT-2000 core band.

The government policies have also stimulated telecommunications equipment manufacturing.

Mr Maran said ''It is an honour to accept this award from the GSM Association. India has put great effort into reforming its policies related to mobile communications and the private sector has responded positively to the policy and regulatory environment created by the Government. The results of the combined efforts of all stakeholders are now apparent and I am sure India will continue to benefit from the strong and vibrant spirit of public-private partnership that is now being witnessed in the telecom sector.'' ''However, we recognise that there is still great untapped potential for mobile communications to bring further economic and social benefits to my country and I assure you that the Indian Government is fully committed to continuing to deliver progressive policy and regulatory environment to all stakeholders.'' The Government of India has transformed the landscape for mobile telecommunications in the country over the past three years, commented Mr Conway.

They have taken some tough decisions to ensure that the benefits of mobile communications, as well as the attendant social and economic advantages, can be shared amongst all of their citizens, and not just the urban elite, Mr Maran said.

UNI