The Cabinet today approved a new telecom policy that proposes to abolish roaming charges on mobile phones and allow users to retain the same number across the country. The Cabinet approved the National Telecom Policy (NTP)2012, a senior minister told reporters after the meeting of the Cabinet.

The NTP 2012 aims to provide free roaming to telecom users and allow them to retain the mobile number even outside their circles without having to pay any extra charge. At present, users have to pay extra when they receive or make a call in a circle outside their home network, called roaming charges.