AUSPI reiterates its opposition to entry of foreign players

NEW DELHI, INDIA: The Association of Unified Telecom Service Providers of India (AUSPI) has reiterated its opposition to the entry of foreign players to offer 3G services in the country.

Talking to CIOL, Association of Unified Telecom Service Providers of India (AUSPI), secretary general, SC Khanna said the only existing players should be allowed to offer 3G services in the country and the entry of foreign players will only increase the base prices for the auction.

"We maintain our position that foreign players should not be allowed to offer 3G spectrum in the country. If foreign players are allowed, the auction process will again consume time and base process will go up", said Khanna.

"The existing players have the robust infrastructure already in place and they can rollout services seamlessly in country without much delay as against the foreign players," he added.

Khanna was reacting to the statement of the telecom minister wherein he had stated that the telecom ministry will take final decision to allow foreign players to offer 3G services in the country after consultation with the Prime Minister.

"We will discuss the issue with the Prime Minister and Finance Minister whether participation of more players in 3G will be allowed, which would fetch additional revenues for the government should be allowed or we should go by TRAI recommendation," Raja had said.

AUSPI has been strongly supporting TRAI directive to keep foreign players away from to bidding for 3G spectrum in the country. TRAI had rejected DoT recommendations to include other prospective operators with foreign partners who fulfil the conditions for getting Unified Access Service (UAS) licenses.

TRAI stands by AUSPI position's and contended that existing licensees had already made huge investments in the infrastructure and their systems were in place, therefore, they were in a better position to deliver 3G services efficiently at low incremental cost.

"The Authority firmly believes that in the interest of the growth of Indian telecom sector, the entry of this kind must be strongly discouraged," TRAI had added.

The DoT had also earlier recommended foreign players to bid for 3G spectrum but the TRAI had been feeble to the recommendations.