With a view to give fillip to telecom growth, the Government has implemented New Telecom Policy 1994 and NTP 99. Telecom sector was opened up. Private sector entry was allowed. Private Operators were given licenses to provide Basic/CMTS services.This has resulted in a competitive situation in the Telecom Sector. A typical Multi Operator competitive environment has emerged in the Telecom industry. To start with, licenses have been given either for basic or for mobile separately.Later on, on the basis of the recommendations of the TRAI, the existing basic/mobile operators have been allowed to migrate to a new licencing regime called Unified Access Service License (UASL) whereby basic and mobile services shall be unified within a service area. For the purpose of License Fee Management, CCA Tamilnadu Circle deals with various service providers operating in the two service areas namely Tamilnadu and Chennai. The service area of Tamilnadu covers entire Tamilnadu Telecom Circle including Pondicherry State butexcepting Chengalpattu SSA which has now been made as a part of Greater Chennai.
The service area of Chennai Metro covers the entire Chennai Telephone District including Chengalpattu SSA which has hithertobeen a part of Tamilnadu Telecom Circle w.e.f. 1.10.2005.
The table below summarizes the details of licencees operating in the two service areas stated, above.
| Sl.No. | Operator | Category of License | Service Area |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Aircel Limited | Cellular | Tamilnadu |
| 2. | Aircel Cellular Limited | Cellular | Chennai Metro |
| 3. | Bharti Televentures Limited | UASL | Tamilnadu |
| 4 | Bharti Televentures Limited | UASL | Chennai Metro |
| 5. | Bpl Mobile Cellular Limited | Cellular | Tamilnadu |
| 6. | Hutchisson Essar South Limited | Cellular | Chennai Metro |
| 7. | Bsnl Tamilnadu Circle | Cellular | Tamilnadu |
| 8. | Bsnl Chennai Telephones | Cellular | Chennai Metro |
| 9. | Bsnl Tamilnadu Circle | Basic | Tamilnadu |
| 10. | Bsnl Chennai Telephones | Basic | Chennai Metro |
| 11. | Reliance Infocomm Limited | UASL | Tamilnadu |
| 12. | Reliance Infocomm Limited | UASL | Chennai Metro |
| 13. | Tata Teleservices Limited | UASL | Tamilnadu |
| 14. | Tata Teleservices Limited | UASL | Chennai Metro |
