Antecedentes de la evaluación educativa

All along, customer acquisition and the top line have been the focus. Few operators have concentrated on offering differentiated services for businesses. However, as operators realize that offering basic voice and Short Message Service (SMS) will get them the numbers but not the margins, some are now seriously looking at the enterprise segment for provisioning superior services.

Cost-centered solutions like closed user group (CUG), value-adds like unified messaging and instant alerts are being offered.

A variety of mobile applications are finding takers among the enterprise segment. Bharti is in the process of introducing a facility to fleet management companies so that they can improve the efficiency of trucks or buses by tracking movement and ensuring higher-use, accurate route planning. Premium automakers are also installing a global system for mobile communications inside a vehicle to help trace lost vehicles and track down stolen cars.

Corporations can choose enhanced services like user-defined call routing to prevent misuse. Calls can be barred, limiting access to select numbers and diverting calls to one single number.

Broadcasting services are also quite popular, especially among fast food centers that have a central number. Group SMS is quite popular, especially among enterprises both in the service as well as the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) segment that have a large field force and need to

• The implementation of enhanced networks like 2.5G will enable operators to offer data services. This is an opportunity to customize and differentiate better.

• The entry of state-run operators like BSNL and BHARTI means that prices will no longer be controlled, thus there is less chance of a cartel being formed.

• Network coverage in terms of geographic spread and quality of coverage is crucial especially for the business subscriber.

• The bigger the service provider's national presence, the better it is for businesses. On the roaming front, signing up with a national operator is advantageous.

• Limited mobility wireless in local-loop services (by fixed network service providers) will be a disadvantage for cellular operators in the short term. Consequently, operators need to streamline their customer relation activities and adopt aggressive subscriber acquisition and retention strategies.

2.4 REGULATORY ISSUES

The operations of this sector are determined as under the Indian Telegraph Act of 1885. A document buried in the sands of time. The next major policy document, which was produced, was the National Telecom Policy of 1994, a consequence of the on going process of liberalization.

Year Event

September 1994 Guidelines for private sector participation in basic services November 1994 Cellular licenses issued for metros

December 1994 Tenders for cellular licenses in 19 cities apart from 4 metros January 1995 Tenders for 2nd operator in basic services apart from DOT

on circle basis.

August 1995 VSNL launches Internet services

January 1996 TRAI formed

November 1998 Internet policy announced

The National Telecom Policy of 1994 document, which laid out broad policy guidelines rather than a series of action points. Like other policies, it sought to achieve the impossible in finite time like improve quality of service and its availability, wide coverage (a phone in every village), at reasonable rates, etc. The targets in quantifiable terms were installation of 9.5mn additional lines,

telephone on demand by 1997, and a PCO pop of 500. The Eighth Plan had also allowed private operators in value added services. To facilitate licensing, the nation was divided into 20 circles (akin to a state) for basic and 21 circles for cellular telephony. Mumbai falls in Maharashtra circle and Delhi in itself a circle.

The basic premise on which competition has been introduced is that every circle will have one private operator apart from DoT/ BHARTI for basic and two operators for cellular. DoT/ BHARTI have the option to become the third cellular operator in future.

Government did not achieve most of its stated targets. The basic theme, which was broadening the reach of telephony in India, has not been met. Even liberalization policies were not implemented properly. The regulator TRAI was set up after delays and confusion and even after its creation, DoT continued to fight with it in courts. It was also affected by the resource crunch, and financing options like BOT, BOOT and BOLT was not used at all. The major policy direction it showed was to allow private sector entry in both basic and value added services. The intention, though noble failed to achieve its goals because of improper implementation, the economic costs are still borne by the end user.

The telecom sector has witnessed some fundamental structural and institutional reforms in the past decade. Telecom equipment manufacturing was completely deregulated in 1991. Value-added services (including cellular services) were thrown open to private sector participation in 1992.

Basic services were opened to private participation in 1994 by dividing the country into 21 telecom Circles and allowing one private operator per Circle to compete with DOT. An independent telecom regulatory Authority of India was set up in 1997. A new Policy for Internet Service Policy Providers (ISPs) was announced in 1998 allowing independent service providers to enter the sector ending the earlier monopoly of VSNL. Reorganization of DOT, separating policymaking function and service provision and corporatization of DOT's operational network are two major institutional reforms, which need to be implemented.