BSNL, MTNL join hands to offer free roaming

Two companies to share buildings, mobile masts, international long-distance phone networks, according to agreement

State-run telecom operators Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) and Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd (MTNL), on Tuesday, signed an agreement to share their infrastructure and provide joint services to corporate customers.

 

While BSNL provides mobile, fixed line and internet services across the country except Mumbai and Delhi, MTNL operates only in Delhi and Mumbai.

 

Under the agreement, the two state-run telecom operators will share buildings, mobile masts and international long-distance phone networks, according to a joint statement.

 

“In the NCR (National Capital Region), leaving Delhi, where BSNL customers is on roaming, he is not charged for roaming. We would like to enlarge that area individually on pan-India basis so that mobile customer does not pay any fees for roaming,” said BSNL Chairman and Managing Director R K Upadhyay.

 

Currently, MTNL and BSNL do not charge any roaming fee for mobile internet services on each others customers. MTNL CMD A K Garg said that both companies will work to have similar arrangement for phone calls also.

 

“We have made certain packages in pre-paid where it (roaming) is allowed on payment of small amount but yes once this synergy are there we will work out to have similar situation for voice also,” Garg said.

Meanwhile, BSNL also targets to increase revenue from enterprise segment by 15 to 20% following this agreement.

 

“Most of the enterprise customers are headquartered in Delhi and Mumbai. We expect to garner more than Rs 2,000 crore (this fiscal) from enterprise segment after this agreement with MTNL,” said Upadhyay.

 

Currently, a Group of Ministers (GoM) headed by Finance Minister P Chidambaram is considering a revival proposal for both the state-run telecom operators.