Policy should be focused on consumer interest, not revenue maximisation, TRAI tells Telecom Commission

TRAI has told the Telecom Commission that policy decisions should be taken on the basis of consumer interest and not revenue maximisation. The regulator has further suggested that the government should allow telecom companies to use spectrum as collateral for borrowing funds amidst falling revenues and a decline in the sector’s contribution. TRAI has also made recommendations with respect to licence terms and conditions for different telecom services, the method of estimating revenue for levying licence fees and spectrum usage charges.