Department of Telecom grants BSNL 20 year permit to provide services in Delhi, Mumbai

New Delhi: The Department of Telecommunications has extended Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd.’s unified licence and allowed the company to provide telephony services in Mumbai and the national capital.

“We are now able to offer services in the Delhi-National Capital Region as well as Mumbai metropolitan,” PK Purwar, chairman of state-owned BSNL, confirmed to ET.

Telecom services in the two cities are provided by private companies and state-owned Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd.

BSNL’s unified licence was renewed after the telco submitted a bank guarantee for Rs 250 crore. It can now provide seamless 2G, 3G and 4G services in the country.

The department signed an agreement with BSNL, which had been offering services on an ad hoc basis, on December 10. The licence, granted with effect from February 29, 2020, is valid for 20 years.

The licence renewal became one of many contentious issues between BSNL and the department. The licence was granted in consideration of the entry fee, licence fee and due performance of terms and conditions, according to the agreement.

The extension of the licence allows BSNL to continue nationwide services such as local, long distance and international calls, very small aperture terminal (VSAT) and public mobile radio trunking services.

The unified licence was granted on a non-exclusive basis and additional permits may be issued in any service area without entry conditions.