CONTENTS 1. INTRODUCTION; 1.1 Contribution of Telecom to the Development; 1.2 Basic Telecommunications services and Value Added Services; 1.3 Research Methodology; 1.3.1 Aim of the Research; 1.3.2 Hypothesis; 1.3.3 Method of Analysis; 1.3.4 Sources of Data 1.3.5 Mode of Citation; 1.3.6 Chapterization; 1.3.7 Research Questions; 2. THE GATS FRAMEWORK IN THE CONTEXT OF TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICES; 2.1 Purpose of GATS; 2.2 Scope; 2.3 Obligations under GATS; 2.3.1 General Obligations; 2.3.1.1 Most Favored National Treatment; 2.3.1.2 Transparency; 2.3.1.3 Domestic Regulation and Mutual Recognition; 2.3.1.4 Obligations to Developing Countries; 2.3.1.5 Prevention of Anti-Competitive Practices; 2.3.2 Specific Commitments; 2.3.2.3 Market Access; 2.3.2.4 National Treatment; 2.3.2.5 Additional Commitments; 2.4 General and Security Exceptions; 2.5 Annexes to GATS; 2.5.1 Annex on Article II Exemptions; 2.5.2 Annex on Movement of Natural Persons; 2.5.3 Annex on Air Transport Services; 2.5 4 Annex on Financial Services; 2.5.5 Annex on Negotiations on Maritime Transport Services 2.5 6 Annex on Telecommunication; 2.5.7 Annex on Negotiations on Basic Telecommunications; 3. TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICES UNDER GATS; 3.1 Telecommunication Services in the Uruguay Round Negotiations; 3.1.1 Uruguay Round Decision on Negotiations on Basic Telecommunications; 3.1.2 The Negotiating Group on Basic Telecommunications and Group on Basic Telecommunications; 3.2 Annex on Telecommunications; 3.3 The Basic Telecommunication Agreement (Fourth Protocol); 3.4 Reference Paper; 3.4.1 Objectives 3.4.2 Scope and Structure; 3.4.3 Major Suppliers; 3.4.4 The Major Head of Reference Paper; 3.4.4.1 Competitive Safeguards; 3.4.4.2 Interconnection; 3.4.4.3 Universal service; 3.4.4.4 Licensing; 3.4.4.5 Independent Regulator; 3.4.4.6 Allocation of Scarce Resources; 3.5 The Impact of the Fourth Protocol on Global Telecom; 3.6 GATS 2000 Negotiations on Telecommunication Services; 3.7 Information Technology Agreement; 4. MEXICO-MEASURES AFFECTING TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES-ANALYSIS; 4.1 Background; 4.2 Issues; 4.3 The United States' Contentions; 4.5 Findings of the Panel; 4.5.1 Cross Border Supply- Mexico's Commitments under Section 2 of the Reference Paper; 4.5.2 Prevention of Anti-Competitive Practices- Mexico's Commitments under Section 1 of the Reference Paper; 4.5.3 Access to Private Leased and Public Telecoms Networks and Services-Mexico's Commitments under Section 5 of the GATS Annex on Telecommunication; 5. INDIA'S COMMITMENTS UNDER TELECOMMUNICATION AGREEMENT AND LIBERALIZATION OF TELECOM SECTOR 5.1 Indian Telecom Sector: An Overview 5.2 National Telecom Policy 1994 and Telecom Liberalization; 5.2.1 National Telecom Policy 1994; 5.2.2 Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI); 5.3 India's Commitments under the Fourth Protocol; 5.3.1 India's Specific Commitments; 5.3.1.1 Voice Telephone Services; 5.3.1.2 Circuit Switched Data Transmission. Private Leased Circuits and Facsimile Services; 5.3.1.3 Electronic mail, Voice Mail, On-Line Information and Database Retrieval; 5.3.1.4 Cellular Mobile Services; 5.3.2 India's Additional Commitments; 5.3.2.1 Competitive Safeguards; 5.3.2.2 Interconnection; 5.3.2.3 Universal Services; 5.3.2.4 Public Availability of Licensing Criteria; 5.3.2.5 Regulatory Authority; 5.3.2.6 Allocation and Use Scarce Resources; 5.3.3 MFN Exemptions notified by India; 5.4 Developments after Telecom Agreement; 5.4.1 New Telecom Policy 1999; 5.4.2 Amendment to the TRAI Act; 5.5 Impact of the WTO Negotiations on Domestic Telecom Regulation; 6. CONCLUSION; 7. BIBLIOGRAPHY.