Telecom Lead India: Indian telecom operators – BSNL and
MTNL have signed an agreement with the Indian Air Force to provide a host of
services at concessional rates. As part of the agreement, IAF will give space
for installation of towers and equipment.

“The objective is to enable BSNL and MTNL to provide IAF full gamut of
telecom services, including basic telephony, mobile telephony, broadband
services, internet services and leased lines, MPLS-VPN and VSAT services, on
concessional tariff,” said BSNL in a statement.

The ailing public sector units will get “Most Preferred Service
Provider” by Indian Air Force and provide space to them for installation
of telecom towers and other telecom equipment.

Telecom services will include CUG facility on mobile phones and value added
services on mobile and landline phones, optic fiber connectivity as per IAF
requirements. System integration solution will also be explored among telcos
and Indian Air Force.

The joint agreement with IAF is also a step towards synchronizing their
businesses as the Department of Telecommunications is examining the feasibility
of merging telecom PSUs ITI and MTNL with BSNL in line.

Recently, the Board for Reconstruction of Public Sector Enterprises has
recommended that state-run BSNL, which operates in 20 circles, should merge its
counterpart MTNL, which has operation on two metros, and telecom equipment
manufacturer ITI with itself — a move that will help turnaround the
loss-making telecom giant, according to agency reports.

While government is working on the process to merging these PSU, both BSNL and
MTNL have started synergizing their operations.

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