Jtm To Share Essars Punjab Telecom Network

JT Mobiles, the cellular licence operator for Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh circle in the south, will share Essar groups basic telecom infrastructure in the Punjab circle for cellular services.

Rao, CEO of United Telecom Ltd (UTL), one of the consortium member of JTM, strongly denied that the project was postponed following an objection raised by Department of Telecom (DoT) over operating the licence through Essar group, thus violating tender and license conditions.

Were implementing the project, he confirmed.

Rao claimed that JTM has already received Department of Telecom (DoT) permission as early as in April 1996 to operate the licence through Essar-promoted Evergrowth Telecom in Punjab for cellular service.

According to him, it was cost effective to share the basic backbone network already laid by Essar group in Punjab.

Since Essar already owns licence for providing basic service in Punjab, we opted for sharing the network with them, he said.

Essar group also has licences for Delhi, Haryana and Rajasthan circles.

Meanwhile, JTM has put on hold the decision of appointing a new president for the company following the departure of Eric Ericsson, former president, recently.

Frank D Hough, who took over as acting president in his place, will continue as president, Rao said.

Roa also confirmed that there was no move to change the equity structure of the company.

According to the recently restructured equity base of the company, Telia AB of Sweden holds 26 per cent; Jasmine International 13 per cent; ToT of Thailand 10 per cent; Sanmar group 20 per cent and UTL 31 per cent.