BUDGET 1999-2000
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BUDGET 98-99
BUDGET 97-98
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'There aren't enough breaks by way of duties or taxes'

Amit Sharma

Very little has been done about a licence fee and the reduction in licence fee; two, there is good news that infrastructure status is being bestowed on the telecom segment.

But it is no cause for celebration. Not enough has been done for the infrastructure sector. Nor are there any enough breaks by way of duties or taxes.

Ideally, the 22 per cent duties should have been brought down to 10 per cent. Low cost telecom services could have been possible then.

The IT taskforce's hardware report. The implementation of it will hold the key. We will have to wait for the Finance Bill. This has implications for the entire telecom and IT industry in the next five years.

Amit Sharma is co-chairman, FICCI telecom panel

Budget 1999-2000

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