Government Approves 211 Proposals for FDI In Telecom

The Government has approved about 211 proposals for about Rs.17,500 crores for FDI in
telecom sector during the period 2000 to 2002. Giving this information in a written reply
to a question by Nivedita Mane in Lok Sabha, the Minister of Communications, Information
Technology and Disinvestment, Arun Shourie stated that the entire telecom sector has been
opened up for private sector participation.

Shourie further informed the Members that FDI in the telecommunications sector during
the period 1991 to 2002 has been about Rs.9,650 crores. Further, FDI is likely to be made
mainly by the private sector in cellular mobile telephone service, basic telephone,
national and international long distance services and telecom equipment manufacturing
sub-sectors, he added. He also stated that FDI has helped in the rapid growth of telecom
sector both in telecom services and telecom equipment manufacturing