Telecom: Centre approves Rs. 1.64 trillion packages to revive BSNL
New Delhi: Telecommunication Minister Ashwini Vaishnav on Wednesday said the Union Cabinet has approved a Rs. 1.64-trillion package for the revival of ailing state-owned telecom firm Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL).
The Centre has also approved the merger of Bharat Broadband Network Ltd (BBNL) and BSNL, he said at a press conference in New Delhi.
He said the government plans to make an administrative allocation of spectrum to the BSNL to help it expand 4G services.
The BBNL is implementing the government’s BharatNet project.
BharatNet is among the world’s biggest rural broadband projects. This is funded by the Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF), initially meant to cater to village telephony, handled primarily by the BSNL.
The BSNL offers telecom services (both landline and wireless) across India except in Mumbai and Delhi, where MTNL is the state-owned telecom company.
(VP)
