Competition Policy in Telecommunications - A Case Study of India

Abstract

The interaction of the two regimes, telecommunications regulation and competition policy , has become increasingly important in India, as has been in other countries, to effectively deal with the complexities of competition issues that are retarding the development of meaningful competition. The first part of this paper intends to explore the rationale behind competition policy intervention in telecommunications markets and highlight some of the basic concepts of competition policy that are commonly present in many markets of the world. The latter part intends to provide a framework for understanding some of the evolving competition policy issues in the telecommunications sector in India and the approaches that have been designed and undertaken by the Government of India and its various regulatory arms. It will deal with the current trends and approaches to competition policy in telecommunication while attempting to assess these approaches. We will also compare the Indian experience with the diverse approaches taken by different countries. This would enable us to take stock and draw out the lessons of experience in order to identify the key elements that can be adopted in India.