MTNL ramps up GSM network capacity

Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd (MTNL) today increased its GSM-based cellular network capacity to 12.5 lakh, adding 4 lakh new lines each in Delhi and Mumbai. It also launched wi-fi (wireless fidelity) services in Delhi.

The state-owned operator plans to expand its capacity further adding 1 million line each in the two metros. A tender for this two million new lines is likely to be floated in January 2005.

"We are further expanding the capacity by adding about 2 million lines next year, as current additions will be exhausted in 6-8 months," chairman and managing director R S P Sinha told newspersons here.

Of the four lakh lines added each in Delhi and Mumbai, 2.8 lakh lines would be for pre-paid segment each in the two metros. Initially pre-paid connection will be available, whereas the post-paid connections will be given from November 15, Sinha said.

Sinha also said the company had invested about Rs 227 crore in Delhi and Rs 216 crore in Mumbai for the expansion. Motorola has supplied equipment for the expansion.

For providing Wi-fi services, the company plans to set up 100 hot spots initially and ramp up to 400 hotspots in the near future. It plans set up hot spots in all strategic locations in the city.

Sinha said the company will invest Rs 200 crore for rolling out broadband services, which is going to launched shortly. " We are targetting to have 1 lakh broadband subscribers by January 2005 and 10 lakh by December 2005," he said.

MTNL will add two more mobile switching centres and increase the number of base transmission systems by 180, taking the total number of BTS to 470 in each of the cities. It would soon make its network EDGE-enabled and provide triple-play, that is voice, video and data over cellular telephony, Sinha said.