MTNL aims at bigger global footprints

State-run MTNL is planning to enter into agreements with global telecom operators to expand roaming facility on its "Dolphin" mobile service.

MTNL has invited an expression of interest from vendors to initiate and conclude on its behalf international roaming agreements with GSM international operators in different countries, as per priority fixed by MTNL for its mobile services, officials of the PSU said.

With more than 1.5-million total working connections as on December 31, MTNL provides cellular mobile services in Delhi and Mumbai and its adjoining towns.

MTNL, which currently has a sole roaming agreement with the other telecom PSU, BSNL, is in a way outsourcing the process to enter global roaming arrangements, which it says it hopes would help drive a hard bargain with operators.

In fact, the agreement would be carried out by the vendor in consultation with MTNL, which would include coordination, international agreements, sim card exchanges, international carrier tests and launch of two-way global roaming services.

MTNL is providing international roaming on its GSM cellular mobile services in more than 193 countries world-wide. It provides international roaming using two methods: the first is the direct roaming agreement where it provides international roaming directly in about 36 countries in association with its local roaming partners.

Dolphin customers can utilise the international facility in these countries with their usual MTNL sim card after activating ISD and international roaming facilities in them.

The other method uses "dual sim" card where MTNL offers international roaming facility in about 157 countries. In these countries, the Dolphin customer would require a dual imsi sim to activate ISD and international roaming on the dual imsi sim card.

BSNL and MTNL offer a seamless roaming between the two networks to ensure smooth mobility and connectivity to their cellular subscribers throughout India, without any roaming charges.