A user pays an extra amount called roaming charges while making or receiving calls in a telecom circle outside his or her network. The National Telecom Policy approved in May this year aims to abolish roaming charges and pave the way for nationwide mobile number portability. Mr Sibal said the new policy would replace the older regulation being effective for more than 12 years now.
Telcome Secretary R Chandrashekhar said the Telecom Department is working on Notice Inviting Applications, NIA, for spectrum auction after which the department will work on unified license or UL guidelines. He said all issues linked to auction would be primarily addressed. He also said that after the NIA is issued this week, the focus would be on unified license. Mr Chandrashekhar added that after details of full unified license are worked out, the modalities for free roaming will follow. As per the schedule, NIA will be issued on the 28th of this month.