Section 1. Subs. by Act 2 of 2000, s. 14, for "under clause (p)" (w.e.f. 24-1-2000)

1. Subs. by Act 2 of 2000, s. 14, for "under clause (p)" (w.e.f. 24-1-2000). STATEMENT OF OBJECTS AND REASONS In the context of the National Telecom Policy, 1994 which, while stressing, amongst others, on achieving universal services, seeks to bring the quality of telecom services to world standards, to provide for a wide range of services to meet customer's demand at reasonable prices and to provide for participation of companies registered in India in the area of basic as well as value added service, to make arrangement for the protection and promotion of consumer's interest and to ensure fair competition, it was felt to separate the regulatory functions from the service providing functions which will be in keeping with the general trend in the world. In the multi-operator situation, arising out of the opening of basic as well as value-added services in which private operators will be competing with the Government operators, there is a pressing need for an independent telecom regulatory body for regulation of telecom services and the orderly and healthy growth of the telecommunications infrastructure besides the protection of interests of the consumers.