MTNL confirms deferral of BSNL-MTNL merger and allocation of 4G Spectrum to BSNL in Delhi and Mumbai

State-owned Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL) today confirmed that the Group of Ministers (GoM) have deffered the impending BSNL-MTNL merger or MTNL being made a subsidiary to BSNL. The GoM has put the merger on hold due to financial reasons including the high debt on MTNL. MTNL however noted that the Union Cabinet would take a final call on the issue.

MTNL further confirmed the allocation of 4G Spectrum to BSNL in Delhi and Mumbai in place of MTNL by the Group of Ministers (GoM). The spectrum allocation has happened through the modification of approval of Union Cabinet dated 23rd October 2019. MTNL currently provides telecom services in Delhi and Mumbai while BSNL currently provides telecom services in all the other telecom circles across the country.

OnlyTech had earlier exclusively reported BSNL receiving fresh pan India liberalised spectrum for 4G services. The state-owned telco has been allotted an additional block of 5 MHz in the 2100 MHz band in 20 telecom circles (including Mumbai but excluding Delhi and Rajasthan) it has been allotted a 5 MHz block in the 850 MHz band in Rajasthan and a 10 MHz block in the 1800 MHz band in Delhi circle with a 20 years validity up to 2040.

“In compliance of Regulation 30 of SEBI {LODR), 2015, this is to inform you that Group of Ministers {GoM) has deferred the BSNL-MTNL merger or MTNL being made a subsidiary to BSNL mainly due to financial reasons including high debt on MTNL. The Union Cabinet, however, will take a final call on the issue. Further it is to inform that the Group of Ministers (GoM) has approved allocation of 4G spectrum to BSNL in Delhi and Mumbai in place of MTNL modifying the approval of Union Cabinet dtd. 23.10.2019. Currently, MTNL provides telecom services in Delhi and Mumbai and BSNL currently serves the rest of the country,” said MTNL in a BSE filing.