India plans to push ahead with listing Bharat Sanchar Nigam, the state-owned telecoms group, in what would be the country's first large privatisation since the government came to power four years ago.
The proposed merger between two state-run telecom giants -- Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited and Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited -- might have hit a roadblock, but both the companies plan to synergise their operations across the country.
Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited on Thursday said it had set a target of rolling out one crore (10 million) mobile telephone connections in the country for which work would begin from April next year.\n\n
The central government has no plans of divesting stakes in public sector telecom firms - BSNL and MTNL - as the two were performing well in the competitive telecom sector.
Passing an interim order, Telecom Dispute Settlement and Appellate Tribunal also directed BSNL to restore RCom's inter- connection within 48 hours of such payment. TDSAT Chairman Justice Arun Kumar said: "I am of a view that the petitioner (Rcom) should deposit an amount of 65 per cent of disputed claim in one week and respondent should restore the connection with 48 hours of the deposit."
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India on Friday said it has sought information from those mobile operators who are offering tariff packages along with a handset.
The company's new chairman and managing director Kuldeep Goyal also said BSNL generated a revenue of around Rs 39,715 crore (Rs 397.15 billion) and net profit of about Rs 7,806 crore (Rs 78.06 billion) in 2006-07.
State-run BSNL's losses have more than tripled to about Rs 6,000 crore during 2010-11 mainly due to hefty outgo for employees' salary and expenses borne by the PSU for procuring 3G and BWA spectrum.
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In a written reply to the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for IT and Communications Shakeel Ahmad said a consortium of consultants led by ICICI Securities has suggested some options for restructuring of MTNL and BSNL.
Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd's profits have declined after its corporatisation, mainly on account of the sharp increase in wages, higher depreciation rates, provision of bad debts and wealth tax, Lok Sabha was informed on Wednesday.
With 3G-enabled smartphones and network coverage finally starting their gradual proliferation of the market, Apple has finally announced it will be releasing the much awaited and almost outdated (the iPad 2 might just be around the corner) iPad in India, in partnership with BSNL.
The recommendations include divestment of 30 per cent government equity in BSNL, reducing the company's workforce by a third, and cancelling the telecom equipment order for 93 million GSM lines, replacing it with network outsourcing deals.
State-run BSNL on Friday said it will not raise rural telecom tariffs but will reduce some of the development expenditure in those areas to bridge the financial loss of Rs 1,254 crore (Rs 12.54 billion) caused by the latest Access Deficit Charge regi
State-run telecom firm Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd on Tuesday said it has started negotiations with Tatas-owned Videsh Sanchar Nigam Ltd to work out a framework for deriving synergies on its proposed international long distance services.
The prime minister's directive comes in the wake of telecom minister A Raja seeking his intervention for early resolution of BSNL's tender controversy.
The move may prove a shot in arm for the Chinese firms such as Huawei and ZTE, who were not allowed to put in bids for the 5.5 million tender due to security concerns.
Five global telecom equipment vendors -- Nokia, Motorola, Ericsson, Siemens and ZTE -- are in the fray for BSNL's 45.5 million GSM lines tender, bids for which were opened on Monday.
An attempt is to be made over the next month to get over the opposition of staff unions to the Pitroda Committee recommendations on the revamp of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL), the state telecom network outside Mumbai and Delhi.
State-owned BSNL has suggested lowering of the market share limit to 40 per cent from the current 67 per cent following the merger and acquisitions of two entities in the telecom sector to avoid monopolistic situation.
With hopes of raising funds through an initial public offer (IPO) or selling a stake to a strategic investor fading due to stiff opposition from the unions, the government is working on a proposal for a private placement of shares for Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL), India's fifth-largest telecom company,
The state-run telecom operator had recovered Rs 2,541.84 crore (Rs 25.41 billion) up to September 2012.
This will push the size of the division to 25,000. Pitroda panel had suggested BSNL to cut staff strength by 100,000.
State-owned Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) is likely to exit the consortium comprising Delhi-based Vavasi Group and Malaysia's Al-Bukhary to acquire 46 per cent in Kuwait's Zain Telecom.Talks, which have been on for two months, have fallen through over valuations, and Vavasi is expected to announce a new consortium partner in a week or two. Vavasi Group Managing Director Farid Afruddin declined to comment on this information.
A merger between state-run telecom firms Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd and Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd is the best option because it would create the country's largest telecom company, said Kuldeep Goyal, chairman and managing director of BSNL.
Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd has unveiled a new plan, 'Plan 140', for its mobile post-paid customers, even as the service provider has extended its special scheme for CellOne connections up to October 31, 2003.
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