Expected concrete initiatives to revitalise telecom sector in interim budget, rues COAI

Industry body COAI Friday expressed disappointment that the telecom sector, which is facing financial difficulties, did not receive significant support in the Interim Budget despite being the backbone of the country's economy.

"Though several significant reforms were articulated, touching multiple industries, considering the given financial position the telecom sector is reeling under, and the economic backbone that the sector provides to the economy and almost all industries, we expected concrete targeted initiatives to revitalise this sector," Rajan S Mathews, director general of Cellular Operators' Association of India (COAI) said in a statement.

The finance minister spoke extensively about investing in infrastructure such as road, railway, highways, electricity amongst others, geared to target a 10 trillion dollar economy, noted Mathews, but rued that the telecom sector "did not receive significant support" in the Budget.

"The Interim Budget 2019-20 is truly pragmatic and we laud .