The agreements that were signed under the aegis of WTO meant that the following conditions had to be met:

Competitive Safeguards

Major suppliers could no longer engage in anti-competitive practices.

Interconnection

Major suppliers must provide interconnection under the following terms:

• At any technically feasible point in their networks

• Under non-discriminatory terms and conditions

• At cost-oriented, unbundled rates

• At points in addition to existing network transfer points

• Subject to reasonable construction charges

• Interconnection procedures and agreements to be publicly available

Universal Service

Members may make exceptions to achieve universal service objectives, provided they are transparent, non-discriminatory and competitively neutral.

Licensing Criteria

Terms and conditions and the period of time normally required to reach decisions concerning licenses will be made publicly available.

Independent Regulator

The regulatory body will be separate from and not accountable to any supplier of basic telecom services.

Scarce Resources

Any procedures for allocating scarce resources, such as the radio spectrum, will be carried out in an objective, timely, transparent and non-discriminatory manner.