World Dialogue on Regulation

A draft version of the research report submitted by Payal Malik and Harsha de Silva of LIRNEasia titled Diversifying Network Participation: Study of India’s Universal Service Instruments is now available for download as a PDF document. You can also read one of the author's commentary based on the research that was published in The Indian Express on 31 October 2005.

The research shows that open access to backbone is precondition for effective use of subsidies that minimize market distortion. In a news release announcing the study LIRNEasia maintains that because there was no open access "the telecom subsidy mechanism operationalized through India’s Universal Service Fund (USF) has unduly served the interests of the government owned incumbent telecom company Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL)."

Download the draft report from the column on the top right of this page.

Read the Indian Express commentary.

Read a news release about the report "Indian Universal Service Fund unduly serves incumbent"

Comment on the draft via the LIRNEasia website.