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Survival remains a challenge for BSNL

Another lifeline, in the form of a financial package worth more than Rs 89,000 crore, will keep state-owned Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) going amid stiff competition from top private players, such as Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel. But, it’s never a good idea to throw good money after bad. Telecom has been identified as one of the four strategic sectors by the government, ruling out full privatisation. That, however, should not be a premise for the Centre to give such handouts to BSNL, which has been piling up financial losses and losing subscribers despite starting out as a monopoly