Government of India implemented the unified access licensing regime, which enables basic and cellular mobile service to use any modern technology. In 1997, Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) was formed to facilitate the growth of the telecom sector in India.
Telecommunication sector in India is primarily subdivided into two segments, which are Fixed Service Provider (FSPs) and Cellular Services. Telecom industry in India constitutes some essential telecom services like telephone, radio, television and Internet. Telecom industry in India is specifically emphasizing on latest technologies like GSM( Global System for Mobile Communications), CDMA(Code Division Multiple Access), PMRTS(Public Mobile Radio Trunking Services), Fixed Line and WLL(Wireless Local Loop ). India has a prospering market specifically in GSM mobile service and the number of subscribers is growing very fast.
Telecom industry in India has a major role in Indian economy. The Indian government is also enforcing some effective telecom policies and regulations for the infrastructural growth of this industry. Indian telecom market provides a tele-density of 8.5 percent as registered in the year 2004. A number of leading multinational telecommunication companies are approaching and showing their interest to invest for the telecom industry in India. Telecommunication industry of India ranked sixth among all the telecommunication sectors in the world. In the year 2004, the total number of telephone subscriptions were US$93.2.
Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited, Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL), Videsh Sanchar Nigam Limited (VSNL), Bharti Airtel, Tata Teleservices, SIFY Ltd. are the major telecommunications service providers in India.