BSNL mulling hiving off infrastructure biz into separate co
Taking a cue from its private sector counterparts, state-run telecom major BSNL is exploring possibilities of hiving off its infrastructure business into a separate company.
By PTI |
NEW DELHI: Taking a cue from its private sector counterparts, state-run telecom major BSNL is exploring possibilities of hiving off its infrastructure business into a separate company.
"We are examining the scope of hiving off the infrastructure business...not decided as of now... trying to look at the possibility if we should hive it off into a separate company or not... BSNL CMD Kuldeep Goyal told newspersons here today.
If and when BSNL transfers its assets of 32,000 GSM Base Trans-receiver Stations and 7,000 CDMA BTS to a separate company to monetise them at a future date, it will be following the footsteps of arch-rivals Bharti Airtel, Reliance Communications, Idea Cellular and now the Tata Teleservices, which has sought shareholders nod for it.
BSNL which has signed agreement with six infrastructure providers to rent mobile towers from firms, including GTL Infrastructure Ltd and Tata Teleservices, is also looking at sharing active infrastructures like backhaul with private companies.
We have all the services like GSM, CDMA and Wi max.. There is not much scope for sharing of infrastructure.. but we will examine sharing of active infrastructure", Goyal said.
Recently Government unveiled new guidelines for telecom operators to share transmission systems and cables or active infrastructure in a move to reduce call tariffs and increase rural connectivity. This would enable the operators to reduce the cost of rolling out telecom networks, especially in remote areas of the country.
BSNL will also hire towers from independent tower companies Srei Group's Quipo Telecom Infrastructure Pvt Ltd, Essar Telecom Infrastructure Pvt Ltd, among others.
"We are examining the scope of hiving off the infrastructure business...not decided as of now... trying to look at the possibility if we should hive it off into a separate company or not... BSNL CMD Kuldeep Goyal told newspersons here today.
If and when BSNL transfers its assets of 32,000 GSM Base Trans-receiver Stations and 7,000 CDMA BTS to a separate company to monetise them at a future date, it will be following the footsteps of arch-rivals Bharti Airtel, Reliance Communications, Idea Cellular and now the Tata Teleservices, which has sought shareholders nod for it.
BSNL which has signed agreement with six infrastructure providers to rent mobile towers from firms, including GTL Infrastructure Ltd and Tata Teleservices, is also looking at sharing active infrastructures like backhaul with private companies.
We have all the services like GSM, CDMA and Wi max.. There is not much scope for sharing of infrastructure.. but we will examine sharing of active infrastructure", Goyal said.
Recently Government unveiled new guidelines for telecom operators to share transmission systems and cables or active infrastructure in a move to reduce call tariffs and increase rural connectivity. This would enable the operators to reduce the cost of rolling out telecom networks, especially in remote areas of the country.
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BSNL will also hire towers from independent tower companies Srei Group's Quipo Telecom Infrastructure Pvt Ltd, Essar Telecom Infrastructure Pvt Ltd, among others.
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