Question : Disinvestment of Telecom PSU

(a) whether Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL) and Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) have been named as sick PSUs and likely to be closed down;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) if not, whether the Government proposes to merge both the Telecom PSUs or proposes to disinvest them as part of revival plan;

(d) if so, the details thereof along with the study reports prepared therefor; and

(e) whether these companies have surrendered their CDMA spectrum and the amount refunded to them and if so, the details thereof?

THE MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
(SHRI RAVI SHANKAR PRASAD)

(a) &(b) No.

(c) &(d) Every attempt with effective monitoring is being undertaken to revive Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) and Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL) to make them competitive. The results are positive. There is no proposal to disinvest them as part of revival plan.

(e) Government has provided financial support of Rs. 169.16 crore to BSNL and Rs. 458.04 crores to MTNL for surrender of spectrum in 800 MHz (one carrier of 1.25 MHz each in 4 Licensed Service Areas (LSAs viz. Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, Kolkata and Punjab in respect of BSNL and two carriers of 1.25 MHz each in Delhi and Mumbai in respect MTNL).
of 1.25 MHz each in Delhi and Mumbai in respect MTNL).