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State-owned telecom service provider BSNL on Friday announced the soft launch of 4G network in the national capital. The 4G services will be available to users through a partner's network access arrangement, BSNL said in a statement. "The Delhi soft launch is delivered as a 4G-as-a-service through a partner's network access arrangement that provides last-mile radio coverage on compatible 4G devices, with BSNL SIMs. This approach complements BSNL's nationwide 4G build under its indigenous rollout programme," the company said. With this BSNL new customers will get instant 4G availability across Delhi on supported handsets. The customers can get SIM and eKYC done at BSNL and MTNL customer service centres and authorised retailers. "Starting today, new BSNL customers in Delhi can switch on dependable BSNL 4G for voice and high-speed data. We're using the 4G-as-a-service model to ensure citywide coverage immediately, while building parrallely our own indigenous network," BSNL CMD A Rober
A high-level committee has outlined the framework for the transfer of surplus land and buildings of telecom PSUs BSNL, MTNL and ITI to central government organisations without auction. The proposal was cleared at a meeting of Committee of Secretaries in June, which also decided that any central government organisation keen on acquiring any such property would be required to submit their interest, along with stipulated approvals and a deposit (2 per cent earnest money deposit) of the indicative value to register their claim. This process needs to be completed within 90 days from the notification of the asset on the asset monetisation website. Central government organisations will enjoy the right of first refusal, but after 90 days of notification, Bharat Sanchar Nigam, Mahanagar Telephone Nigam and ITI will be free to dispose of the property to any other non-government buyer. "As per Government policy, surplus land/building assets of PSUs of DoT are being monetised...In a recent ...
The total number of telecom subscribers in India grew marginally to 120.7 crore in May with Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel adding over 99 per cent new customers during the month, according to data published by sector regulator Trai on Friday. The total net subscriber addition by telecom service providers was 43,58,231 while Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel jointly added 43,51,294, thereby accounting for 99.84 of the total net subscriber addition in May. The overall growth in subscriber base was mitigated by loss of subscribers by debt-ridden Vodafone Idea (Vi) and public sector firms BSNL and MTNL. The total telecom subscriber base in the country grew to 120.7 crore with landline connection growing by 3.34 per cent to 3.86 crore and mobile connections rising to 116.84 crore in May. The total subscriber base in April was 120.3 crore. Reliance Jio dominated the mobile subscriber base, comprising 5G FWA (fixed wireless access) connections, with 40.92 per cent share with net addition of
Debt-ridden state-owned telecom operator MTNL has failed to make interest payments of sovereign guarantee-backed Rs 6,100 crore bonds as per stipulated norms, the company said in a regulatory filing. MTNL issued 5,000 government-guaranteed, unsecured, rated, listed, redeemable, non-convertible, and taxable bonds in the nature of debentures for an aggregate amount of Rs 6,109.6 crore in November 2022. As per the payment mechanism of the Tri-Partite Agreement (TPA) signed among MTNL, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and Beacon Trusteeship, MTNL has to fund the semi-annual interest into an escrow account with an adequate amount 10 days before the due date. "...it is informed that due to insufficient funds MTNL could not fund the ESCROW Account with the adequate amount," the state-owned firm said. As per the terms of the bond agreement, the sovereign guarantee will be invoked by the debenture trustee in case of any default is made by MTNL in payment of principal and interest