The Hindu : National : TRAI’s recommendations on directory enquiry

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Jun 21, 2008
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

National

National

TRAI’s recommendations on directory enquiry

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India has recommended that initially two licences be given for five years through an open bidding process to provide a National Integrated Directory Enquiry Service (NIDQS) for mobile and fixed lines.

In its recommendations on “terms and conditions of licence for NIDQS” that has been sent to the Department of Telecommunications, the telecom regulator has said the eligibility criteria should include a three-year experience in telecom network operations or IT-enabled Services (ITeS), a minimum net worth of Rs.100 crore and an FDI limit of 74 per cent.

A minimum reserve price of Rs.1 crore as one-time entry fee may be fixed for licence and it should be 6 per cent of the gross revenue of the provider.

The licence period could initially be for 10 years and it could be renewed for another 10 years.

The recommendations say that the provider shall roll out the service in 11 areas in the first year and in the remaining service areas in the second year.

The operator has to give a performance bank guarantee of Rs.2.5 crore for two years. Customers can access the NIDQS through their access service providers.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

National