Exempt telcos with under 15% mkt share from floor price norms: BSNL, MTNL

The two have batted for fixing of floor prices by Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) but with a rider

State-owned BSNL and MTNL have told the sector regulator Trai that tariff fixation should be applicable only on telcos with more than 15 per cent subscriber base in a service area, while those with lower or negligible user base should be exempt from the purview of minimum floor price.

It is pertinent to mention here that Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) - which operates telecom services across India except Delhi and Mumbai circles - has about 10.3 per cent market share in all India mobile subscriber base. Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd (MTNL), present in Delhi and Mumbai, has 0.29 per