Question : INVESTMENT BY FRANCE TELECOM IN CELLULAR SECTOR



(a) whether it is a fact that France Telecom has shown its interest in investing in the cellular telephone sector in India;

(b) if so, whether any agreement has been signed in this regard; and

(c) if so, the details thereof?

Answer given by the minister


THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRIMATI SUMITRA MAHAJAN)

(a) to (c): M/s France Telecom, France was a Joint Venture partner, holding 26% equity in M/s BPL Mobile Communications Limited, a company licenced to operate Cellular Mobile Telephone Service in Mumbai. M/s BPL Mobile Communications limited has been granted approval to transfer the equity held by France Telecom to France Mobile International, a 100% owned subsidiary of France Telecom and thereafter from France Mobile International to M/s France Telecom Participations, Belgium SA (now known as Wirefree Services Belgium, SA).