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National Telecom Policy (NTP) 2011 released by Union Minister of Communications and Information, Kapil Sibal, includes in its objectives to achieve One Nation - Full Mobile Number Portability and work towards One Nation - Free Roaming.

It plans to reposition the mobile phone from a mere communication device to an instrument of empowerment which combines communication with identity proof, fully secure financial and other transaction capability, multi-lingual services and a whole range of other capabilities that ride on them and transcend the literacy barrier. The Ministry would draw a road map for availability of additional spectrum every five years.

The major strategies proposed in the policy also include:

• Recognition of telecom and broadband connectivity as a basic necessity like education and health and work towards 'Right to Broadband'.

• Revision of existing broadband download speed of 256 Kbps to 512 Kbps by 2011 and subsequently to 2 Mbps by 2015 and higher speeds of atleast 100 Mbps thereafter.

• Encouragement of indigenous manufacturing of cost effective customer end terminals and devices including mobile devices and SIM cards with enhanced features, etc.

• Spurring the domestic telecom equipment manufacturing segment to become self-reliant in telecom/ICT equipment design and manufacturing.

• Synergizing existing, on-going and future Government programs such as e- governance, e-panchayat, NREGA, NKN, AADHAR, AAKASH tablet etc. and roll-out of broadband.

NTP 2011 plans to transform the socio-economic scenario through accelerated and inclusive economic growth by emphasizing on provision of affordable and quality telecommunication services in rural and remote areas.

It also intends to put in place an ecosystem to assess the manpower requirement by partnering with National Skill Development Council and industry requirements and create an enabling framework in partnership with Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) to periodically upgrade academic curriculum of telecommunication courses.

Phone users may have more reasons to cheer as the government has proposed to strengthen the TRAI Act and undertake legislative measures to bring disputes between telecom consumers and service providers within the jurisdiction of Consumer Protection Act. Further, it talks of promoting informed consent, transparency and accountability in quality of service, tariff, usage and strengthen the grievance redressal mechanisms to provide timely and effective resolution.