The events of 2015 will lead to a dramatic reshaping of India’s telecoms sector over the coming years. The introduction of regulations permitting spectrum trading and sharing will help mobile operators to improve network quality and for some will provide an escape route out of the market altogether. Indeed, in November, Reliance Communications agreed to acquire smaller rival Sistema, while Idea Cellular struck a deal to buy spectrum from Videocon. 
India’s authorities have also wielded the stick though, announcing a dropped-call compensation scheme. Telcos have complained that the scheme will punish them for problems that are often out of their control but so far regulators have been unmoved.
India: Carrot and stick
