MTNL to float 4-mn GSM line tender

Preparing for anticipated demand over the next two years, state-run MTNL is gearing up to float a 4-million GSM line tender, with 25 per cent reserved for third-generation mobile services (3G), to take competition head-on.

The PSU is also in the final stages of launching "Triband" (one step ahead of broadband) services under which voice, data and video can be offered by March next year.

"We will float a tender of four million GSM line "" two million each for both our service areas, Mumbai and Delhi," A K Arora, ED, MTNL, Delhi told newspersons here, adding that in the first year (2006-7) a one-million GSM line tender would be floated in each of the metros.

In Delhi, the PSU plans to set up 40 more base transceiver towers over the next two months, adding to the existing 430 towers, he said.

"This is part of our endeavour to meet the target of four lakh GSM subscriber addition by this fiscal-end," he said. MTNL's network in Delhi has 8.25 lakh subscribers capacity, and with its current GSM cellular subscriber base at 6.59 lakh, it is planning to enhance the capacity to 10.25 lakh by March 2006. By March 2007, the GSM network should have a capacity for 20 lakh subscribers, he said.

Arora said the PSU was adding 1300 GSM customers per day and in broadband was adding 450 connections a day. "In the current fiscal so far, we have provided 72000 broadband connections and our target is to provide 2.5 lakh customers over the next four months. By March 2006, we will provide 'Triband' services that will include voice, data and video as well," Arora said.

MTNL's PSU counterpart BSNL is planning to float a 60-million GSM line tender in January.