The government has entrusted state-run BSNL with various telecom
network projects around Rs 25,000 crore in works, Parliament was
informed today. The big projects include laying of optical fibre based
network dedicated for use by Defence worth Rs 13, 334 crore and Rs 6,500
crore for execution of second phase of BharatNet Project, as per
details shared by Telecom Minister Manoj Sinha in Rajya Sabha today.
"Optical Fibre Cable based Network for Defence Services (NFS
Project) has been given to BSNL on nomination basis at the cost of Rs
13,334 crore. For execution of BharatNet project, government has
provided Rs 5,744 crore in Phase-I and has earmarked Rs 6,500 crore in
Phase-II for BSNL," Sinha said. The state-run firm has been awarded
rolling out mobile networks in uncovered villages in Arunachal Pradesh
and two districts of Assam at an estimated project cost of Rs 1,975.38
crore, implementation of transmission-media plan for North Eastern
Region at an estimated cost of Rs 295.97 crore, laying of submarine
optical fiber cable project at the cost of Rs 1,900 crore for providing
connectivity to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands (ANI) and augmenting of
satellite bandwidth in ANI and Lakshadweep Islands at an estimated cost
of Rs 120.49 crore.
"Work of setting up of 25000 Wi-Fi Hotspots at Rural Telephone
Exchanges at the cost of Rs 940 crore has been given to BSNL on
nomination basis," Sinha said. He was replying to question over revival
of state-run telecom firm BSNL and MTNL.
Both public sector telecom firms have been incurring losses continuously
since Financial Year 2009-10 and as per Department of Public
Enterprises (DPE) guidelines, both CPSEs (Central Public Sector
Enterprises) have been declared as ?Incipient Sick?, Sinha said.
"Consequent upon declaration of BSNL as Incipient Sick?, action has
been initiated by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) for
preparation of a revival/restructuring plan for BSNL as per DPE
guidelines. Three Indian Institutes of Management (IIM) have been
requested to submit their willingness for undertaking a study and
preparation of a revival/restructuring plan for BSNL," the minister
said.
An internal committee of DoT is examining the recommendations of the
report prepared by the consultant to decide the path of financial, human
resources and corporate restructuring for revival of MTNL.
The MTNL consultant has recommended reduction in retirement age from
60 to 58 years for employees, voluntary retirement scheme , debt
restructuring and synergy in operations of MTNL and BSNL.
Besides this, the recommendation for MTNL should focus on customers
and defend current revenue besides generating additional revenue through
network capex investment, asset monetisation ? ease, Sale of real
estate, buildings, lease or sale of mobile tower, fiber, copper and
active equipments, Sinha said.