New set-up for longdistance telephony mooted

The communication ministry should set up a separate corporation for rapid growth of long distance telecom services, including creation of necessary infrastructure, according to CII.

A task force set up by the CII for this purpose recommended setting up of this ‘corporation simultaneously with corporatisation of Department of Telecom. The STD policy should be aimed at building necessary infrastructure throughout the country as an alternative to the existing DoT network with long distance services emphasising on building the infrastructure till January 1, 2003, the task force headed by former MTNL CMD B M Khanna said.

Long distance services should be viewed from three aspects —carriers carrier who would contribute to build infrastructure, service providers and resellers who would be leased circuit holders and buyers of time from service providers, the chamber said in a statement here. "Carriers would include DoT Long Distance Corporation, Power Grid, Railways, Gail and other government and private entities," it said.

Compiled from local news media