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Re: telecom debacle - chapter 2
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[Topics under debate]: GOOD GOVERNANCE
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I'd like to point out one mistake in this case (about Indian operators
(Read DOT/MTNL etc) are giving lowest rates in world), I am in America
so I
know this market also I just went to MTNL website and I am siting latest
rates from them, things will be clearer after this comparison :
US INDIA
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Installation Charges $40.00 (avg) Reg: General : Rs.3000
OYT : Rs. 15000
Tatkal : Rs.30000
Inst + wiring :
Rs. 1050
Wait time Week (Avg) varies with catgory.
Rental $16.00 (Avg) <= 200 calls Rs.190
(Unlimited local >200 Calls Rs. 250
calls) 75 calls : Free
76 - 200 : Rs. 0.80
201-500 : Rs. 1.00
> 500 : Rs. 1.20
(Duration of call 180 Sec)
Long Distance $0.10/Min (Avg) (Lets take only peak time)
(Domestic) 24 hrs/day (calulated by pulse rate)
(You can have (In seconds)
various plans) 0-50 km : 180
(Anywhere) 50-200km : 14
200-500 : 5
500-1000 : 3.5
> 1000 : 2.5
(I think call rate is as
mentioned prev)
(Metered call rate is Rs. 1.20)
So if you make a call to place which is say 600km away, per minute
rate is
Rs. 20.57. (Well in the age of new hitech technology, tariff based on
physical distance is ridiculous).
Lets not talk about international tariff.
You know extremely well about quality of service.
Now my point is companies in US are churning profits every year while
charging such a ridiculously less amount to the consumer, while back
home
public sector companies (who are supposed to be non-profit organization)
gives rotten service at the same time shows losses every year and puts
drain
on exchequers amount.
My appeal to all the people involved in this discussion is to lobby for
free
market for Telecom/Tech sector (Which also includes TV broadcasting ,
Radio,
Internet etc.) in India as soon as possible because we are already well
behind the world in this sector, and considering todays scenario we
cannot
be a International power without being a Information Superpower.
Regards
Manish Gupta
>From: vijay rao <vijayrao@hotmail.com>
>Reply-To: debate@indiapolicy.org
>To: debate@indiapolicy.org
>Subject: Re: telecom debacle - chapter 2
>Date: Mon, 28 Jun 1999 22:10:10 -0700 (PDT)
>
>---------------------------------------------------------------------
>[Topics under debate]: GOOD GOVERNANCE
>___Help make this manifesto better, or accept it, and propagate it!___
>---------------------------------------------------------------------
>It is interesting to read a viewpoint on telecom policy. I would like
to
>
>correct a few perceptions on Vamsi's argument.
>1. India does not have the purchase capacity to even have two
>competitors to
>exist - as has been observed in Cellular, Paging etc... So the solution
>of
>allowing more competition and solving the problem is unfeasible.
Infact,
>the
>problem is that the market is not being stimulated even though the
>Indian
>operators are giving the lowest prices in the world.
>2. The government is genuinely looking for answers and a way out,
>lobbies
>notwithstanding. How does it politically, economically and rationally
>overlook the voluntary bidding by the biggest MNCs (who know the
>telecom)
>and the largest Indian houses (who know India) and change the terms of
>the
>contract without a scandal esp in light of the FCC ruling in USA that
>forced
>companies to pay over $1bn when the PCS licenses prooved unviable!!!!
>How do
>they explain to the Public and the people who bid reasonable prices
that
>
>they were thrown out of the race only to give the irresponsible bidders
>the
>chance to run the service at later time without the original guy
getting
>the
>chance to rebid!!!! How do you manage to not set precedences- what if
>Enron
>turn around tomorrow and says they are sorry they cannot pay the
license
>fee
>since they did not understand the market and site this as a
>precedence.\!!!!
>
>On the other hand, there is a despirate need for telecom. DOT, without
a
>
>question of doubt, has been misusing, is misusing and will continue to
>misuse their advantage for small shortsighted gains. There is
absolutely
>no
>vision of the larger perspective of what telecom can do for the
nation's
>
>economy. So, what the country cannot do is to remain a silent spectator
>to
>the country missing another international opportunity of being a major
>player.
>
>The answer lies in finding a rational solution. In my paper " An
>approach to
>the Telecom Policy" I had developed a data based argument on the
>possible
>approaches. Will be happy to share with those who are interested.
>
>WHAT WE NEED TODAY IS A SERIOUS DISCUSSION OF THE DIFFERENT FACETS OF
>THE
>PROBLEM AND ARRIVE AT A WELL RESEARCHED WELL DEBATED POSITION PAPER.
>HOWEVER, THERE IS NO ROOM FOR LOBBIESTS OR EMOTIONS. IF YOU ARE
>INTERESTED
>TO DEBATE THIS, I WILL BE HAPPY TO TABLE THE DISCUSSION ON THIS ISSUE.
>
>I believe, the forum must debate this in earnestness. This forum forms
>an
>excellent platfrom to have a debate on this as its members, atleast
some
>
>othem, I notice do this after much research. The issues involved are
>very
>strategic, very critical and very difficult. It is fashionable to
>rundown
>the government and find fault with it. But it truely deserves a
>discussion
>better than gut feels and intellectual unfounded remarks.
>
>K VIJAY RAO
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