New Delhi, July 30: The government on Wednesday said it would take suitable further action into the unified licence system after the telecom regulator submitted its recommendations. Minister of State for Communications and IT Ashok Pradhan, in a written statement in Lok Sabha, said, "Telecom Regulatory Authority of India has issued a consultation paper on the subject to seek comments of all stakeholders and government would await the submission of recommendations of Trai on it and take suitable further action."

New Telecom Policy (NTP-99) states that convergence of both market and technologies is a reality that is forcing realignment in the industry. This convergence now allows operators to use their facilities to deliver some services reserved for other operators, necessitating a relook into the existing policy framework and Indian Telegraph Act, 1885 needs to be replaced with a more forward looking Act, Pradhan said.
Accordingly, Communication Convergence Bill, 2001, was introduced in Lok Sabha in August, 2001. Bureau Report