MTNL wants better synergies with BSNL

NEW DELHI: Vouching for synergies with BSNL, another state-run telecom firm MTNL today said pitched for a common licence, common sales front, traffic sharing among network and tax exemption for mutual transactions.

"Synergies (between BSNL and MTNL operations) will come first, merger later," MTNL Chairman and Managing Director AK Garg told reporters on sidelines of a company's event.

MTNL and BSNL at present provide services using separate permits for their respective circles. MTNL has operations in Delhi and Mumbai while BSNL provides telecom services in rest of the country.

Garg said: "This means we should have a common sales front, share traffic among our network and not with anyone else, should be treated as one licence and mutual transactions should be not be taxable".

Earlier, the government set up a committee to form road-map for merger of both the loss-making public companies in to a profitable venture.

Moving ahead towards mergers, both the companies have started synchronising their operations.

"We are working more on synergies at present," Garg said.