New Delhi: The department of telecommunications (DoT) on
Thursday unveiled a strategic plan to create synergies among its seven
public sector units (PSUs) which includes frameworks to facilitate
manpower sharing, utilize vacant land and buildings, boost technology
innovation and export promotion and, importantly, settle legal issues
and financial claims.
“The world over, telecom sector is moving
towards massive consolidation... harnessing synergy is now an imperative
not a luxury... our PSUs must come together. Turf issues often come to
the fore at the lower level, but at a higher level, I hope (officials at
PSUs) can rise above turf issues and leverage each other’s strengths,”
telecom secretary Aruna Sundararajan said.
There are seven PSUs
under the DoT—Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL), Mahanagar Telephone Nigam
Ltd (MTNL), Bharat Broadband Network Ltd (BBNL), Telecommunications
Consultants India Ltd (TCIL), ITI Ltd, Centre for Development of
Telematics (C-DoT), and Telecommunication Engineering Centre (TEC).
PSUs
under DoT will be prohibited from going to court against each other,
the framework released on Thursday stated. A PSU should first approach
the DoT; timelines have been laid down for appointment of an arbitrator
and arriving at a settlement. If the dispute is not solved, it will be
referred to the law ministry for settlement through the Permanent
Machinery of Arbitration.
BSNL, BBNL, MTNL, TCIL and ITI, through
a memorandum of understanding, have also developed a framework to
address payment issues that arise among them during execution of
contracts. Apart from this, the DoT framework also calls for deployment
of excess manpower on a contract or project basis, and sets definite
timelines for identification of excess manpower in lending PSUs,
finalising terms and conditions for completion of manpower deployment to
projects in borrowing organizations. All information regarding vacant
land and buildings will be put on a common portal developed by BBNL.
This is expected to save resources as BSNL and MTNL have a lot of vacant
space, while other PSUs need space and take it on lease from outside
organizations.
While BSNL and MTNL provide telecom
services, BBNL is tasked with creating broadband infrastructure in rural
areas. TCIL is a consultancy for telecom projects in India and
overseas; ITI manufactures telecom products; C-DoT is an autonomous body
engaged in telecom research and development; and TEC advises the
government on technology and policy issues.
Other MoUs signed
included one between TEC and C-DoT to work together to prepare a road
map on various technologies. Another has TCIL teaming up with ITI to
utilize spare optical fibre manufacturing capacity of Tamil Nadu
Telecommunications Ltd, a joint venture between TCIL and the government
of Tamil Nadu.
TCIL, ITI and C-DoT have entered into an MoU for export of products and services to foreign markets.
C-DoT
has also signed an agreement with ITI that would provide the latter
licence to manufacture, market and sell C-DoT’s terabit router
technology which aims to reduce the country’s dependence on imports.