The central government has no plans of divesting stakes in public sector telecom firms -- Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd and Mahanagar Telecom Nigam Ltd -- as the two were performing well in the competitive telecom sector.

This was stated by Union Minister of State for Communications and IT S Thirunavukkarasar in Chennai on Saturday.

"Both BSNL and MTNL are faring quite well in the highly competitive telecom scenario, and no divestment plans are on the cards as of now," the minister said.

He, however, said this did not amount to a long-term guarantee of what would happen in the next 50 or 100 years.

He said the tele-density of the country, which currently stood at seven per cent, was poised to touch 17 per cent in the next few years.