SC Khanna, Secretary General of AUSPI (CDMA Association), called for a reduction on taxes on telecom services - "we pay around 28 percent of revenue to government. In comparison, in Pakistan, the taxes are 7-8 percent." Khanna also played up intereference from the TRAI in tariffs, saying that mobile operators should be left to decide what charges they levy on the services they provide. He also expressed shock at the recommendations on Internet Telephony, saying "The Internet telephony chap can provide the same services with low license fees, unline the Universal Access Service License holders." On 3G, he said that the success of Indian telecom is based on price. We're the among the only countries that charge Rs. 1650 cr just for a license. and then have to pay for a rollout. These, he reiterated, are his personal views, and not representative of AUSPI members. RN Prabhakar, Member, TRAI later during the discussion mentioned that the TRAI had issued a code of conduct, which is being violated quite significantly. "TRAI cannot take direct punitive action, but we might have to consider regulation." The Rural Rollout Debate AK Saxena, Member Services for the Department of Telecom appeared to be fed up with the government looking at rural and urban separately, saying that the Department of Telecom has not given separate licenses for urban and rural, so all the norms should apply to urban and rural. Therefore, if there is a norm that a new connection should be given in X number…
