Not a peep of protest was heard. What remains to be seen is what kind of strategic investor will step forward since current policy on foreign investment in domestic airlines prohibits investment by foreign airlines. It has also set up an appellate tribunal that will function as a specialised telecoms court. This will avoid delays in getting rulings from regular courts. Meanwhile, the government has been demolishing the monopolies enjoyed by state-owned operators.
Private companies can now operate communications satellites and international Internet gateways.
So far eight companies have been given approval to set up gateways. Faced down striking electricity workers over the issue of privatisation. Workers in Uttar Pradesh, India's largest state, went on strike for 11 days over the government's plans to split the state electricity board into three separate businesses for generation, transmission and distribution, the first step towards privatisation. The strike left much of northern India in darkness. New Delhi provided replacement power and army engineers to support the government.