New Delhi, July 24: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India on Thursday said its consultation process on unified licence will be "open to suggestions" including encompassing long distance services, although the consultation paper will not be altered. "We will consider all suggestions by the industry but I will not alter the consultation paper," Trai chairman Pradip Baijal said.

Asked if the scope of consultation paper was being enlarged to accommodate inclusion of long distance services in its ambit, he said, "No.”
Baijal's comments come in the backdrop of recent demands of the cellular operators that the definition of Unified Licence was "narrow".

In a letter to Trai last week, Cellular Operators' Association of India had expressed surprise that the consultation paper on "so called unified licence uses the narrowest possible definition covering only cellular mobile and basic services”.
COAI said this was in direct contrast to the provisions of the proposed convergence legislation, under which a dialogue on converged licences and regulator for all communication services, including mobile basic, long distance, internet and broadcasting is already underway in Parliament. Bureau Report