DoT panel for completely opening up telecom sector to FDI

A DoT panel has suggested completely opening up the telecom sector to foreign direct investment, a move which is expected to bring in fresh funds into the industry that is facing a financial crisis. The FDI cap is currently fixed at 74 per cent.

"This (hiking it to 100 per cent) has been under consideration. DoT has started working on it. The proposal needs to be first cleared by Telecom Commission but we are not sure if it can be placed before the commission in the meeting scheduled for July 2," official sources told PTI.

More details of the proposal to remove FDI cap could not be obtained. The inter-ministerial body Telecom Commission in its July meeting is expected to discuss setting up of the Telecom Finance Corporation (TFC) for facilitating investments in the sector.

Divestment of government stake in Telecommunications Consultants India Ltd, review of National Optical Fibre Network (NOFN) status and progress made in different Telecom Development Parameters, are also on the meeting's agenda. The cumulative debt on the Indian telecom sector is around Rs 2,50,000 crore and the companies have been under pressure to pay back these loans.

A separate finance company for the telecom sector is likely to help companies mobilise and channelise funds as operators have been facing challenge to raise fresh loans from domestic banks.