ional Telecom Policy 1994 of introducing all available Value Added Services in India to international standards and to fulfil the need of supplementing the resources to achieve the objectives, the following Value Added Services are being franchised to Indian registered companies on non-exclusive basis: 1. Cellular Mobile Telephone Services 2. Radio Paging Service 3. Mobile Radio Trunked Service 4. Electronic Mail 5. Voice-Mail/Audiotex Service 6. Videotex Service 7. Video Conferencing 8. Closed Users Group (CUG) 64 kbps Domestic Data network VSAT services via INSAT Satellite System 9. Fax/Data Broadcast Service Cellular Mobile Telephone Services are in operation in 4 metro cities from August/September 1995 and in 17 Telecom Circles from December 1995 onwards. Paging services were first started in 27 major cities of the country from March 1995 and in some of the Telecom Circles from February 1997 onwards. The number of Cellular and paging subscribers in the country has reached a figure of approx. 0.8 million and 0.75 million respectively. 459 Licence Agreements have been signed for various Value Added Services including 41 licences for Cellualr Mobile and 137 for Radio Paging Services. E-Mail, Voice-Mail/Audiotex VSAT and Radio Trunking Services are also operational in the country by some of the licensee companies. BASIC TELEPHONE SERVICES Recently tenders were invited from Indian registered companies with foreign equity not exceeding 49 per cent and having an experience of operating 500,000 lines. Most of the major telecom companies in the participated in the Basic Telecom Tender after forming Joint Ventures with Indian Companies. Letters of intent have been issued to companies for six telecom Circles. For the remaining 15 telecom circles, steps are being taken. Two company have signed the licences and interconnect agreements for Gujarat and Madya Pradesh Circles. DIGITAL SWITCHING EQUIPMENT Digital Switching System technologies of fore...
