The regulator or a doormat?

 

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India has a former telecom hand, having been the Telecom Commission chairman earlier, He would soon realise the telecom world has undergone a change since his DoT days. More importantly, he followsl, who came minus any telecom experience, but with the blessings of the then communications minister, and left behind a considerable legacy. Of course, whether that legacy is good or bad is debatable, depending on which side of the fence you are on. And this (which side of the fence) issue is what has turned the regulator into a controversial body and controlling that would undoubtedly be the challenging part of new assignment. Speculation that his the chosen one to succeed  he had been doing the rounds for months. So much so that his appointment as the head of C-DoT-Alcatel venture, several months ago, was made precisely with this in mind. Apparently, for a person to be appointed Trai chairman, he must be holding some sort of a government position. But that is the government’s side. It was the division among the industry which was even more interesting. It depended on whether the corporate lobbied for him or not. Those who supported his candidature would not tire of narrating an incident when he apparently threw out of his room a top corporate executive, whose powers in the corridors of power are legendary.

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