MTNL to start cell servives by June

NEW DELHI, MAY 2: Public sector Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd (MTNL) will be on schedule with its cellular services by the scheduled date ...

NEW DELHI, MAY 2: Public sector Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd (MTNL) will be on schedule with its cellular services by the scheduled date of June. “MTNL would like to assure that the project for the implementation of providing cellular mobile service by using GSM technology is on course as per the pre-determined schedule and the project is being reviewed every week,” MTNL chairman and managing director S Rajagopalan told newspersons here today.

“No communication has been issued by the Communications Ministry to suspend activities related to the GSM project,” Rajagopalan said, adding that “a large number of sites which are required for the installation of equipment have already been identified.”

He said that the tendering process relating to the GSM project was absolutely transparent. “However, it is the Ministry’s prerogative to satisfy themselves completely,” he stated.

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“MTNL is determined to give its valued subscribers the privilege of enjoying an affordable cellular service, as per the promise. In view of highly-competitive price obtained in the open tender process by MTNL, the company is in a position to offer an affordable price for a very high quality of technology,” he said, adding that soft launch of MTNL’s cellular service is scheduled for June-end.

Asked whether private cellular operators were lobbying against MTNL’s entry into mobile services, Rajagopalan said, “it was for everybody to guess.” Rajagopalan was addressing the media at a conference to announce the tie-up with Mastercard International for payment of telephone bills through credit cards.

MTNL subscribers in Delhi and Mumbai would be able to pay their telephone bills using the Mastercard, MTNL chief Rajagopalan said. Subscribers would be able to use this service from May 15, while the pilot project started today.

The arrangement between Mastercard and MTNL would be conducted on an exclusive basis for an initial period of three months, Rajagopalan said adding that later this facility would be extended for payment for other services including telemart stores, applying for new telephone connection, internet connection and long distance services.

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MTNL is talking to Indian Oil to use their petrol pumps for the payment of MTNL telephone bills in Mumbai and Delhi.

More than 65 per cent of Mastercard holders reside in these two metros, Mastercard vice president Sameer Vakil claimed.

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