Each panelist would describe a unique case study covering technical, operational, policy and regulatory issues. Since 1951, India carried out planned development through five-year plans. Current goal is for all 600,000 villages to have a telephone by 2000. That leaves 270,000 villages to be covered in two years. Grameen Bank members are the primary client, however, GTC will serve other rural customers.
Universal service is currently unavailable and uneconomic.
The VP is critical. It improves teledensity and ensures universal access. The VP is an owner-operated payphone. A GB member takes the phone under lease finance of GB, buys service from GTC, and sells services to villagers. Customers pay cash for using the phone.