Telecom licences to be awarded at reasonable cost: Raja

New Delhi, May 21 (UNI) The government today said it will ensure that the licences are awarded to the telecom operators at a reasonable cost, so that they can make a long-term profitable business model.

Addressing an event 'Doing Business in Asia' in Kuala Lumpur, Telecom Minister A Raja said, ''we also need to ensure that the licences are awarded at a reasonable cost, so that the operators can create a long-term profitable business model for the whole eco-system.'' He said the government also need to ensure that the licenses are awarded at a reasonable cost, so that the operators can create a long-term profitable business model for the whole eco-system.

Beside, he said the government believes that simplifying the spectrum licensing terms and making them success-based.

The Minister said by 2012, the country will have about 500 million of its population connected to the internet, with more than l00 million broadband connections.

He further said that the government is in the process of establishing 1,12,000 broadband and Internet enabled Common Services Centres (CSCs) across the country.

''The CSCs are being set-up on public private partnership mode.

The scheme would entail an investment of about 1.8 billion dollars over four years,'' he said.

UNI SBA MP NS2115