International Trade

India – Schedule of Specific Commitments – Supplement 3

Indian Papers/ submissions on Services in WTO
World Trade GATS/SC/42/Suppl.3

11 April 1997 Organization (97-1391)

Trade in Services
INDIA Schedule of Specific Commitments Supplement 4

(This is authentic in English only)

This text replaces the Financial Services section contained in document GATS/SC/42/Suppl.1.

INDIA
SCHEDULE OF SPECIFIC COMMITMENTS

Modes of supply:

  • Cross-border supply
  • Consumption abroad
  • Commercial presence
  • Presence of natural persons
Sector or Sub-sector Limitations on Market Access Limitations on National Treatment Additional Commitments
COMMUNICATION SERVICES
(a) Telecommunication Services

(b) Voice telephone service (CPC 7521**)

Limited to local/long distance, for public use over a public telecommunication transport network.

(1) Unbound

(2) Unbound

(3) The service will be permitted to be provided only after the operator gets a licence from the Designated Authority who shall determine the need, if any, for issuance of new licences. The terms and conditions of the licence will be as laid down by the Designated Authority or Government or the prevailing laws in the country.

(1) Unbound

(2) Unbound

(3) Unbound

The definition and principles on the regulatory framework for the basic telecommunication services subscribed to by India are contained in the annex titled “Explanatory Paper on Additional Commitments by India”.
Wire based (i.e. for fixed network of subscribers). There will be one operator other than Department of Telecommunications (DOT)/Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd. (MTNL) in each service area for a period of 10 years from the grant of licence after which the position will be reviewed.

The private operator should be a company registered in India in which total foreign equity must not exceed 25%.

The subject of opening up of national long-distance service beyond service area to competition will be reviewed in the year 1999.
Service operator will be permitted to provide long distance service within the licensed service area only. Also, the subject of opening up of international service to competition will be reviewed in the year 2004.
Resale of voice telephone services will not be permitted. However, licensees can grant franchises on commission basis for providing public call offices (PCOs) service.
The detailed terms and conditions for providing the service will be as per licence conditions.
(4) Unbound except as indicated in the horizontal commitments. (4) Unbound except as indicated in the horizontal commitments
(c) Circuit switched data transmission services (CPC 7523**) (1) Unbound

(2) Unbound

(3) Licensed voice telephone service operators will be permitted for transmission of data on the PSTN network in its licensed service area.

(4) Unbound except as indicated in the horizontal commitments

(1) Unbound

(2) Unbound

(3) Unbound

(4) Unbound except as indicated in the horizontal commitments

(d) Facsimile services

(CPC 7521**)

(1) Unbound

(2) Unbound

(3) Licensed voice telephone service operators will be permitted for transmission of facsimile on the PSTN network in its licensed service area. Franchisees of service operators can provide commercial facsimile services

(4) Unbound except as indicated in the horizontal commitments

(1) Unbound

(2) Unbound

(3) Unbound

(4) Unbound except as indicated in the horizontal commitments

(e) Private Leased Circuit Services

(CPC 7522**)

(1) Unbound

(2) Unbound

(3) Licensed voice telephone service operators will be permitted to provide leased circuits to their customers, for their own use within their licensed service area. Resale of such leased circuits will not be permitted.

(4) Unbound except as indicated in the horizontal commitments

(1) Unbound

(2) Unbound

(3) Unbound

(4) Unbound except as indicated in the horizontal commitments

(h) Other

Cellular mobile telephone services.

(1) Unbound

(2) Unbound

(3) The service will be permitted to be provided only after the operator gets a licence from the Designated Authority who shall determine the need, if any, for issuance of new licences. The terms and conditions of the licence will be as laid down by the Designated Authority or Government or the prevailing laws in the country

(1) Unbound

(2) Unbound

(3) Unbound

Only digital (GSM) technology will be permitted and this will only be terrestrial based.

There will be two cellular service operators in each service area. The position will be reviewed after 10 years. The right of DoT/MTNL to enter into each service area is reserved.

The private operator should be a company registered in India in which total foreign equity must not exceed 25%.

The detailed terms and conditions for providing the service will be as per licence conditions.

(4) Unbound except as indicated in the horizontal commitments.

(4) Unbound except as indicated in the horizontal commitments.