BSNL to start telecom services in Mumbai and Delhi from January 1

The two metros will see the shift from MTNL as merger and VNO options are non-starters

It’s going to be a different new year for Mumbai and Delhi as the two metro cities will for the first time get telecom services from state-owned Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL). So far, Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd (MTNL) — once a telecom major enjoying a dominant market share in the fixed line space — offered its services in Delhi and Mumbai while BSNL catered to the rest of the country.

Besides the proposed merger of the two cash-strapped companies, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) was also contemplating MTNL functioning as virtual network operator for BSNL. But, both options are off