The Cabinet headed by the Prime Minister may discuss on Thursday the National Telecom Policy (NTP) which aims at which aims to make the country’s telecommunications sector more transparent, relax merger and acquisition norms to encourage consolidation and also give more teeth to sector regulator and de-link spectrum from licences.

 It also provides for abolition of roaming charges and allows users to retain the same number across the country.

Last week, the Cabinet which discussed TRAI recommendations on spectrum auction failed to take up the National Telecom Policy. The cabinet on Thursday is likely to discuss certain objections raised by Finance and other ministries on certain aspects in new telecom policy in the light of the clarifications offered by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT).

 According to PTI, DoT, on its part, assured that whenever financial implications arise, a separate proposal would be placed before the competent authority after following due process.

The DoT reiterated its stand that the "primary goal (of NTP) is maximising public good by making available affordable, reliable and secure telecommunication and broadband services across the entire country".

The Commerce Ministry had observed that preference to domestic manufacturers is against the WTO agreement on subsidies. DoT clarified the clause for domestic manufacturers is as per the decision of Cabinet on February 2.