According to telecom secretary R Chandrasekhar, the central government is planning to announce a new telecom policy in the month of January.

The government is aiming to provide clear regulations on a host of issues to telecom carriers in the country following a huge spam that affected the image of the telecom sector in the country. The spam is believed to have cost the government about $ 39 billion in lost revenue.

The government might allow telecom carriers to share spectrum and allow for consolidation in the sector with many players. The authorities are now issuing notices to 35 licence holders for not meeting rollout obligations.

The telecom regulator has recommended cancelling 38 licences for failing to meet rollout obligations and 31 others following legal obligations. Telecoms minister Kapil Sibal pointed out that a total of 119 licensees did not meet rollout obligations. The expected release of the new policy has been delayed until next year due to a delay in recommendations.

Meanwhile, the union telecom ministry has reportedly imposed a penalty of Rs 50 crore each on Bharti Airtel and Tata Communications for violations of International Long Distance (ILD) licence terms and conditions.

The ministry found the two telecom operators in violation of the conditions as they were found to have offered international private lease circuits to foreign company SingTel. IT is believed that the Department of Telecom (DoT) has sent notices to the two operators for violating the terms and conditions of ILD.