Telecom sector abuzz, but DoT missing key officials
NEW DELHI: The country's department of telecom (DoT) is functioning without key officials at a time when the telecom sector is facing a bitter industry infighting and passing through one of its most critical junctures.
While the post of telecom secretary lies vacant following the transfer of J S Deepak last week, the department has been working with ad hoc positions in key functions such as finance, technology and services.
The situation looks alarming considering many of these positions have been lying vacant for months. Even the Telecom Enforcement, Resource and Monitoring (TERM) Cell, which monitors the vast telecom infrastructure spread across the country and ensures adherence to telecom licence conditions, does not have a chief at the moment.
"It is a sorry state of affairs in the telecom ministry, and signals a lack of coherence at the way work is being carried out," a senior official at the ministry said. Even officials from the private sector, who are regulars at the ministry , point out the "anomaly" and say this affects the decision-making process.
"There should be continuity in the way policy guidelines are prepared. While deci sions on spectrum management and auctions have been managed well, there are a lot of areas that need focus and require full-time senior heads," a senior functionary with a private telecom operator said. The member (technology) position is crucial as it takes decisions regarding the management of spectrum and its regulation. After the demise of Peeyush Agrawal due to cardiac arrest in April last year, the position is being managed by G K Upadhyay in an ad hoc role.
While the post of telecom secretary lies vacant following the transfer of J S Deepak last week, the department has been working with ad hoc positions in key functions such as finance, technology and services.
The situation looks alarming considering many of these positions have been lying vacant for months. Even the Telecom Enforcement, Resource and Monitoring (TERM) Cell, which monitors the vast telecom infrastructure spread across the country and ensures adherence to telecom licence conditions, does not have a chief at the moment.
"It is a sorry state of affairs in the telecom ministry, and signals a lack of coherence at the way work is being carried out," a senior official at the ministry said. Even officials from the private sector, who are regulars at the ministry , point out the "anomaly" and say this affects the decision-making process.
"There should be continuity in the way policy guidelines are prepared. While deci sions on spectrum management and auctions have been managed well, there are a lot of areas that need focus and require full-time senior heads," a senior functionary with a private telecom operator said. The member (technology) position is crucial as it takes decisions regarding the management of spectrum and its regulation. After the demise of Peeyush Agrawal due to cardiac arrest in April last year, the position is being managed by G K Upadhyay in an ad hoc role.
