Comments/ Suggestions on ICT Prices We shall include the state owned telecos while selecting the operators for the baskets. The State -owned telecos have the mandate to provide all types of telecom services to every nook and corner of the country even if the provision of services is not in its commercial interest. As per the existing guidelines of ICT Price data collection, tariff plan is to be chosen of the largest operator. However, at many instances, it is observed that the closest tariff plans being offered by the largest operator still has wide variations in the services offered w.r.t the five price baskets defined by ITU. It is therefore suggested that the tariff plans of two more operator may be allowed in our guidelines (say the best three instead of single largest) for the purpose. This provision will be helpful especially in mobile cellular basket as 59% of the world population is on 4G technology and 18% on 5G technology where the data services bundled with voice and SMS is inevitable. + The IPB data will be further used by many world organizations to measure affordability where the prices of baskets of the countries will be compared. The sub group should collectively frame a mechanism/statistical methodology where the wide variations in the services offered by plans be also normalized for all countries. This will ensure that the price of the plans offering same services are compared across all countries and the basis for comparison remains the same for all countries. * _ Itis observed that the mobile cellular basket with 70 Mins and 20 SMS becomes insignificant in the data driven world where, in 2023, 59% of the world population is on 4G technology and 18% on 5G technology (Source: GSMA Mobile Economy 2024 report) and where the bundling of data services with voice and SMS is inevitable. It is to mention, with these technologies, the voice calls are executed on IP based network, Hence, binding ourselves with some fixed usages of voice and SMS is not a forward-looking approach and is not in consonance with the technologies being adopted by the countries.