BSNL's MoU with Swan aims at exploring revenue streams

Faced with the accusation of favouring a new operator Swan Telecom to provide roaming agreement, state-run Bharat Sanchar Nigam (BSNL) has told the government that it is purely a business decision for revenue earning and non-exclusive in nature.

"We have replied to Department of Telecom that we have an MoU not an agreement with Swan Telecom for intra-circle roaming arrangement. The MoU is very clear that if at all we have spare capacity available, then only we will carry their calls," BSNL Chairman and Managing Director Kuldeep Goyal told PTI.

"As of now, nothing is final on sharing and we are open to give the services to others as well if the trial with Swan works out... It is a pure business case to explore more revenues," he said.

"It is only to get additional revenue... It can be done with other telcos as well, there is no exclusive arrangement with Swan on this", he elaborated.

Recently, a member of Parliament wrote to the Prime Minister over this, saying BSNL has never done any roaming agreement with any operator, but entered into one with Swan Telecom.

Subsequently, the communications ministry asked BSNL to submit their replies over this allegation if it had favoured Swan Telecom, a new entrant that was granted telecom licences earlier this year.

Unlisted BSNL is under pressure to retain its falling marketshare and revenues from a competitive market where call rates are as low as 20 paise.