Policy makers, politics blamed for poor status of telecom sector

NEW DELHI: Policy makers as well as politics were blamed for the present condition of the telecom sector, once considered as rising star, at a round table discussion of MPs with industry representatives.

Some of the MPs blamed policy makers for the "poor" condition of telecom sector while some asked the industry to put in investment to improve services.

Speaking at the discussion organised by Assocham, BJP leader and MP Prakash Javadekar said, "In last five years your experience (is) because of a policy paralysis, more because of somebody wanted short circuit and whole industry is paying for it."

He said that though the telecom industry is in "bad patch", it should note that technology upgradation will open up new opportunities and would help grow a number of people with paying capacity.

Congress leader and MP Jagdambika Pal said that telecom industry needs accolade for the investment it has made and jobs that it had generated. He blamed politics for poor condition of the sector that has lead to fear among investors.

"We are neither getting domestic investment nor foreign investment. Who is responsible for this? We have made policy , whether it be political bosses or bureaucrats, and if there is any enquiry of the policy then I think only policymakers and bureaucrats should be held responsible," Pal said.

BJP leader and MP Anurag Thakur said, "If you talk about creating wealth, telecom companies have created wealth. Now you are facing bad time when you are facing competition but you are not investing enough in the sector."

"You are talking about 3G rollout, I am talking about common man who is suffering because no more towers are coming up. Signal is big problem," Thakur said.