Question : QUOTA POLICY FOR TELECOM EQUIPMENT

(a) whether the present quota policy in regard to placement of orders for telecom equipment to the loss-making Indian Telephone Industry (ITI) at Rai Bareili has caused disruption and delay in Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited’s (MTNL) plans for capacity addition;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the ITI has been unable to cater to the requirements of MTNL and BSNL because of technical hitches over technology transfer from Alcatel International which has also suffered huge losses recently; and

(d) if so, the details therof?

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (DR. SHAKEEL AHMAD)

(a) & (b) Sir, ITI has executed orders given by MTNL in the last 3 years in time except GSM Mumbai order and ADSL order which was short closed on the ITI’s request.These orders are executed by other units of ITI, not Rae Bareli.

(c) & (d) ITI has incurred losses in execution of GSM project. The losses were basically due to execution delays and unviable infrastructure revenue and not due to technical hitches in transfer of technology of GSM.