(a) whether the Government have decided to allow MTNL to start services in foreign countries with a view to augment its income; and
(b) if so, the details thereof alongwith the names of the countries where MTNL has signed agreement to start its services?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY(SHRI ASHOK PRADHAN)
(a) Sir, MTNL as Navratna Company is permitted to enter into Joint Ventures both in India and abroad.
(b) The details of Overseas Ventures of MTNL are as under:-
(i) MTNL has formed a joint venture company in the name of United Telecom Limited with Telecom Consultants India Limited (TCIL), Videsh Sanchar Nigam Limited (VSNL) and Nepal Ventures (P) Ltd. (NVPL- a Nepalese Company). The Company is operational since 10th October, 2001 for providing WLL based basis services in Nepal.
(ii) MTNL is in the process of getting feasibility and due diligence for a second Telecom operator is Mauritius.
(iii) MTNL also plans to operate in Kenya as a Second Telecom Operator.
(iv) MTNL has joined a consortium of TCIL India, alongwith a local partner in Malawi and has bid for buying equity stake during privatization process of Malawi Telecom Limited (MTL).