Department of Telecommunications considering BSNL revival

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) is considering revival of public sector telecom service provider Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL), the telco said in a statement Thursday.

The come following a media report that said the government was looking at options to shut down the telco. "Department of Teleocm (DoT) is in the process of finalising a proposal for revival of BSNL to be considered by the Digital Communications Commission very soon," the telco said.

Digital Communication

Digital Communications Commission, formerly Telecom Commission, is the highest decision-making body of the government in the telecom sector. BSNL strongly denied the report, and said there was no proposal under consideration with the government for closure of BSNL, and added that on the contrary, the government recognises and values the inherent strengths of BSNL as a telecom services.

"It is clarified and reiterated that DoT would like to see a robust BSNL, duly strengthened and financially viable, dedicated to servicing the nation and playing an important role in the telecom sector," it added.

Over the last few years, state-driven BSNL is looking at consolidating its customer base, and after billionaire Mukesh Ambani-owned Reliance , io's foray in September 2016, focussed aggressively on retaining customers.