Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited

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Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited
FormerlyBombay Telephone Limited
Company typeSubsidiary
IndustryTelecommunications
Founded1 April 1986; 37 years ago (1986-04-01)[1]
FounderGovernment of India
DefunctMerged With BSNL
HeadquartersMahanagar Doorsanchar Sadan, 9, CGO Complex, Lodhi Road, ,
Areas served
Key people
P. K. Purwar, ITS
(Chairman & MD)[4]
Products
RevenueDecrease 1,798.41 crore (US$230 million)[5] (FY21)
Decrease −2,451.79 crore (US$−310 million)[5] (FY21)
Decrease −2,451.79 crore (US$−310 million)[5] (FY21)
Total assetsDecrease 13,350.75 crore (US$1.7 billion)[5] (FY21)
Total equityDecrease −16,039.88 crore (US$−2.0 billion)[5] (FY21)
OwnerMinistry of Communications, Government of India
Number of employees
3,574 (As of Feb 2023)
Divisions
Website

Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL) (d/b/a MTNL) is a 'Navratna' Category Public sector undertakings in India which is in turn under the ownership of the Department of Telecommunications, Ministry of Communications, Government of India.[6] Headquartered in New Delhi, India. MTNL Provides services in the metro cities of Mumbai and New Delhi in India and in the island nation of Mauritius in Africa. It had a monopoly in Mumbai and New Delhi until 1992, when the telecom sector was opened to other service providers. "एमटीएनएल है, तो सही है" {"MTNL hai to sahi hai"} (Meaning: If MTNL is there, then everything is fine) & "Transparency makes us different" is its motto. The Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited currently holds 100% of its stock.[7] .[8][9] As of June 2021, it has 3.28 million subscribers.[10] It is also a wholly owned subsidiary of a central public sector unit.

Name[edit]

It has its name derived from Hindi: mahanagar meaning "metropolis" (maha "big", nagar "city") and nigam meaning "corporation".

History[edit]

Bombay Telephone was founded in 1882. The first telephone exchange in Mumbai began operations on 28 January 1882.[3] Delhi's first telephone system was established in 1911.[11] Mahanagar Telephone Nigam was created by the Government of India in 1986 to oversee the telephone services of Delhi and Mumbai.[3]

Products[edit]

Telephone and Mobile[edit]

MTNL provides fixed line telephones and WLL services. It also provides mobile services on GSM and CDMA platforms. MTNL various service brands are:

Dolphin – a postpaid GSM service which also provides value added services such as 3G,
Trump – a prepaid GSM service, similar to Dolphin,
Garuda – a WLL service which provides an FW tariff, and a Mobile tariff

Phone numbers belonging to MTNL start with the prefix 2 in fixed line telephones and WLL. In GSM, mobile numbers start with the prefixes 901x, 9757, 9868, 9869, 9968, and 9969.

MTNL's efficiency has drastically improved over the years. In the past, a customer had to wait much longer to secure a connection but now he/she can receive a connection within hours of the subscription request being filed.

Spectrum frequency holding summary[edit]

MTNL owns spectrum in 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, and 2100 MHz bands across two circle of country.[12]

Telecom circle coverage E-GSM
900MHz
Band 8
GSM / FD-LTE
1800MHz
Band 3
UMTS
2100MHz
Band 1
Delhi Yes Yes Yes
Mumbai Yes No Yes

3G Mobile Service[edit]

MTNL started 3G services in India under the name of "MTNL 3G Jadoo." Services offered include video calling, mobile TV and mobile broadband with high speed data connectivity up to 3.6 Mbit/s from 11 December 2008. MTNL plans to offer 3G services across India by mid-2009. MTNL also provides 3G data cards for usage in devices other than mobile phones. MTNL will be installing 15 lakh 3G lines in the first phase of its 3G roll-out in Mumbai and Delhi (which currently have 40 lakh existing mobile lines). MTNL announced in Jan, 2012 that they will upgrade its 3G network to more advanced HSPA+ with download speeds up to 28.8Mbit/s before the end of 2012.

MTNL rolled out its BlackBerry solutions on the 2G and 3G networks by launching India's first 3G-enabled BlackBerry Bold smart phones.

Broadband and FTTH[edit]

MTNL is the largest ISP in Mumbai and Delhi (in terms of market share), and the third largest ISP in India though it has presence just in two circles. MTNL provides TriBand Internet services through dialup and DSL. It provides games on demand, video on demand, and IPTV services in India through TriBand. TriBand is targeted at homes and small businesses.

MTNL began offering fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) triple play (voice, video, and data) high speed broadband service in Delhi on 9 November 2011.[13] FTTH, with core network speed up to 1 Gbit/s, was launched in Mumbai on 1 March 2012.[14] MTNL FTTH Broadband offers several services based on triple play services like IPTV, HDTV, 3DTV, video on demand, bandwidth on demand, instant video conferencing, interactive gaming and several other value added services.

In 2004, telecom regulator TRAI mandated a minimum speed of 256 kbit/s for all broadband connections. MTNL increased the minimum speed of all its broadband plans to 512 kbit/s from existing 256 kbit/s, effective 26 January 2012, becoming the first ISP in India to opt for a minimum broadband speed from 256 kbit/s to 512 kbit/s, without any mandatory regulation.[15] On 12 November 2013, MTNL announced that it would upgrade the speed of all its existing unlimited broadband plans in Mumbai to a minimum of 1 Mbit/s, at no additional cost.[16]

MTNL also provides other services such as VPN, VOIP, and leased lines through BSNL and VSNL.

Mahanagar Telephone Mauritius Limited (MTML)[edit]

MTNL has set up a wholly owned subsidiary called Mahanagar Telephone Mauritius Limited (MTML) in Mauritius, providing mobile and international long distance services. MTML is the second operator in Mauritius. Necessary licenses were obtained in January 2004. MTML has already started its ILD & CDMA based basic services in Mauritius. In Mauritius, 44,312 telephone connections are operational from a total switching capacity of 50,000. Moreover, through joint ventures with local telecommunications providers, MTML planned to offer Internet access through its wireless network by February 2009.

Merger with BSNL[edit]

On the 23rd day of October 2019, the Government of India announced revival package for BSNL and MTNL which includes monetising assets, raising funds, TD-LTE spectrum, voluntary retirement scheme for employees. Apart from package, Ministry of Communications decided to merge of MTNL with Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited. Pending this, MTNL will be subsidiary of BSNL.[6][17][18]

Joint Ventures[edit]

MTNL-STPI IT Services Limited[edit]

MTNL-STPI IT Services Ltd. is a 50:50 joint venture between Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) and Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited, (MTNL).

Millennium Telecom Limited (MTL)[edit]

MTNL has restructured Millennium Telecom Ltd. (MTL) as a joint venture company of MTNL and BSNL with 50% and 50% equity participation respectively. The company will now be entering into new business stream of international long distance operations and will be executing a project of submarine cable system, both east and west from India.

Telephone Advisory Committees[edit]

Telephone Advisory Committees also known as TAC is an Indian Government body made up of Members of parliament and nominated members by the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (India) to address issues concerning telecommunication in India. Looked upon as a privileged panel, the Telephone Advisory Committees (TAC), constituted by the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (India) of the Government of India to serve as a vital feedback mechanism for improvement of services in the Telecommunications sector by the Department of Telecommunications[19][20][21][22][23][24][25]

List of TAC Members[edit]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "About Us". MTNL Delhi. Retrieved 5 April 2019.
  2. ^ "Contact Us". MTNL. Retrieved 5 April 2019.
  3. ^ a b c d "About Us – MTNL Mumbai". Mahanagar Telephone Nigam. Retrieved 25 September 2014.
  4. ^ "BSNL CMD P K Purwar takes charge of MTNL". Business Standard. 15 April 2020.
  5. ^ a b c d e "Audited Financial Results of MTNL for FY 2020-21" (PDF). MTNL. Retrieved 18 September 2021.
  6. ^ a b "MTNL to be a BSNL subsidiary". The Hindu. 29 June 2019.
  7. ^ Sahoo, Madhusudan (15 September 2016). "Sale only option for terminally ill MTNL!". The Pioneer. Retrieved 7 June 2018.
  8. ^ "MTNL files NYSE plan for listing". The Hindu Businessline. 3 May 2000. Retrieved 7 June 2018.
  9. ^ Khanna, Sundeep (12 December 2017). "MTNL's woes show PSUs need a long-term game plan". Live Mint. Retrieved 7 June 2018.
  10. ^ "Corrigendum to press release no. 37/2021 dated 23rd August, 2021" (PDF). www.trai.gov.in. 17 September 2021.
  11. ^ "History". MTNL. Archived from the original on 12 March 2016. Retrieved 25 September 2014.
  12. ^ Pan India Telecom Spectrum holding chart 2021 (updated), Only Tech, retrieved 9 February 2021
  13. ^ MTNL Launches FTTH Unlimited Broadband Plans With 10 Mbps Speed. Telecomtalk.info. Retrieved on 2013-06-15.
  14. ^ MTNL Launches FTTH Broadband Services In Mumbai. Telecomtalk.info. Retrieved on 2013-06-15.
  15. ^ Bafna, Sanjay. (2012-01-25) Exclusive : MTNL Renovates All BroadBand Plans, 512Kbps is Minimum Broadband Speed From 26 Jan. Telecomtalk.info. Retrieved on 2013-12-06.
  16. ^ Bafna, Sanjay. (2013-11-12) Exclusive : MTNL to Say Bye Bye 512Kbps Speed, Hello to Minimum 1Mbps Speed and More on Broadband for All. Telecomtalk.info. Retrieved on 2013-12-06.
  17. ^ "Government approves Revival package for BSNL, MTNL". Economic Times. 23 October 2019.
  18. ^ "BSNL, MTNL to be merged, along with special package". India Today. 23 October 2019.
  19. ^ "Telephone Advisory Committees (TACs)". dot.gov.in. Retrieved 23 December 2015.
  20. ^ "Raghuram Rajan went ahead with TAC view on interest rate". moneycontrol.com. 25 April 2014. Retrieved 25 April 2014.
  21. ^ "Circular" (PDF). dot.gov.in.
  22. ^ "Core function of TAC remains unchanged". thehindu.com. 16 May 2011. Retrieved 17 May 2011.
  23. ^ "Telephone Advisory Committee meeting of BSNL organised". dailypost.in. Archived from the original on 8 February 2016. Retrieved 25 September 2015.
  24. ^ "Telephone Advisory Committee meeting presided over by Dr Ashok Tanwar Member of Parliament". firstpost.com. Archived from the original on 26 January 2016. Retrieved 25 September 2015.
  25. ^ "The Union Minister of Communications Shri Ram Vilas Paswan inaugurated the first meeting of the Telephone Advisory Committee in New Delhi on June 7, 2000". pib.nic.in. Retrieved 18 January 2016.

External links[edit]