Does the NTP scuttle the entry of DoT and MTNL into cellular operations?
It’s actually the other way round. Under the NTP, DoT and MTNL can begin cellular operations. This will lead to greater competition, put a strain on private operators and bring down cellular phone rates to benefit customers. Why wasn’t the NTP placed before Parliament? The NTP is an executive order and does not specifically require Parliament’s approval. It does not need to be put to vote. For instance, the New Infotech Policy too hasn’t been placed before Parliament and no one has objected. But it would have been appropriate if the NTP had been placed before Parliament when it was announced last March, as Parliament had not yet been dissolved. By the same token, if the Opposition had any objection to the NTP when it was announced in March, they could have raised the issue in Parliament.
