All major policy initiatives for telecom sector taken: Prasad

New Delhi: Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad Thursday said the government has taken all major policy initiatives needed for the sector like spectrum sharing and trading norms and now telcos should improve their system.

"The spectrum sharing and trading guidelines are in place... These two demands were pending for the last 4-5 years, earlier the Defence band had also been finalised, pending for the last 8-9 years.

"Therefore, all major policy initiatives needed for boosting the telecom sector have been undertaken," Prasad said here.

The Minister said as far as the issue of towers and the radiation threat is concerned, he has been speaking publicly about it in creating the right ambience about it and now government buildings can be used for erection of towers and postal department has been given the go ahead.

"Therefore, all policy initiatives are in place, I would expect the telecom operators to optimise the utilisation of spectrum and improve their entire system for the better good of the country," he said.

Asked by when the spectrum liberalisation policy will come, the Minister said it will also be out soon.

The Department of Telecom will soon write to TRAI for 900 MHz regarding the policy and after that Cabinet approval will be sought.

Regarding the issue of spectrum cap, the Minister said a committee had been constituted and further course of action will be taken after its report is reviewed by TRAI and Telecom Commission.