The Hindu | April 14, 2011
Tax benefits for telecom infrastructure providers suggested
Proposes setting up of 2 semiconductor fabrication units
NEW DELHI: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) on Wednesday issued important recommendations related to manufacturing, infrastructure and green telecom to promote structured growth of the sector. It has also proposed investments of over Rs.1-lakh crore for technical upgradation and improvement of manufacturing capabilities of the sector.
TRAI has recommended preferential market access to domestic manufacturers and tax concessions in equipment manufacturing policy. It has called for treating telecom infrastructure as an essential infrastructure. It has also asked for making green measures as an integral part of the proposed National Telecom Policy 2011 and ensuring energy certification for all telecom products, equipment and services in the telecom network.
The regulator said export of domestic products should be actively encouraged and telecom should be included in grant-in-aid programmes and bilateral trade agreements. It has also recommended setting up of Telecom Research and Development Corporation (TRDC) at an investment of Rs.15,000 crore, besides establishing a Telecom Research and Development Park with a fund of Rs.5,000 crore for carrying out on-site R&D. It has also recommended setting up of a Telecom Manufacturing Fund (TMF) with an initial amount of Rs.3,000 crore for providing venture capital to Indian product manufacturers in the form of equity and soft-loans.
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