MTNL narrows Q2 net loss to Rs 947 cr

Company reported a loss of Rs 1,094 crore in the same period a year ago

After reporting widening of losses for nine quarters in a row, state-run telecom company MTNL today narrowed its standalone net loss to Rs 947 crore for the July-September period of this year mainly on account of lower provisions for employee retirement benefits.

The company had reported a loss of Rs 1,093.72 crore in the same period a year ago.

 MTNL had last reported narrowing of loss in fourth quarter ended March 31, 2011.

"I don't over commit, but we have elements that makes us confident of returning to profit. The loss narrowed mainly because of certain provisions that we make for employees. We can do turn around if all issues (already placed before GoM) are resolved," MTNL Chairman and Managing Director AK Garg told PTI.

The telecom company reported lower provisions for employee retirement benefits at Rs 121.3 crore during the period under review. In the same period last year, MTNL had set aside Rs 378.72 crore under this head.

Total income during the period under review is marginally down by 3.4% to Rs 813.45 crore from Rs 842 crore in the corresponding period of the previous fiscal.

"The total income also contributed to performance of the company. Earlier, there used to be decline in higher range which is now limited to about 3%," Garg said.

In the second quarter of the current fiscal, the total amount under salary and employee benefits, including actual payouts and provisions, was Rs 820 crore which is higher than the total income of 813.45 crore by 1%.

In the same period last year, the total figure under employee benefits amounted to 115% of total income (expense of Rs 970 crore against a total income Rs 842 crore).

"It is only debt service that is deteriorating the company's performance apart from pending issues that are to be resolved by government. We have no element deterring our growth," Garg said.

Shares of the company closed at Rs 15.03 a unit, up by 1.21%, at BSE today.

MTNL has prepared a detailed roadmap, which suggests lowering of debt burden and annual investment of Rs 500 crore among other things, to make the company profitable by 2017-18.

A Group of Ministers, headed by Finance Minister P Chidambaram, is looking at issues like refund of spectrum cost, pension benefits etc.