GSMA Honours Indian Government for Achievements in Mobile Communications

Tue, 13 Feb 2007 08:05:00 GMT

 BARCELONA, Spain, Feb. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- The GSM Association (GSMA), the global trade association representing more than 700 mobile operators, yesterday 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 Thiru Dayanidhi Maran, India's Union Minister for Communications and Information Technology by Rob Conway, CEO and board member of the GSMA. The presentation took place at the GSMA's Leadership Summit, yesterday in Barcelona; an invitation-only event attended by mobile industry CEOs and government ministers from across the world.

 

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 -- reducing the access deficit charges payable by mobile operators to the fixed line incumbents -- liberalising the domestic and international long distance markets -- facilitating the sharing of network infrastructure -- simplifying and speeding the planning procedures for new cell sites -- increasing the amount of commercially available spectrum and -- securing spectrum for 3G in the IMT-2000 core band -- stimulating telecommunications equipment manufacturing

 

Minister Maran commented: "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 a 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 Rob Conway, CEO and board member of the GSMA. "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. Without a doubt, the digital divide in India is narrower today than ever and this is due in great part to the foresight and vision of the Indian government."