| India: State telecom operators to merge |
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| Friday, 01 October 2004 | |
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According to a report by AFX Asia, the Indian government intends to merge Mahangar Telephone Nigam Ltd (MTNL) and Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL), two state-controlled telephone operators. Junior Communications Minister Shakeel Ahmad said the government was shortlisting investment bankers to advise on the merger. "A number of suggestions are coming for the merger of BSNL and MTNL and the government is working out modalities in this regard," Ahmad said. The two companies would remain off the list of state firms to be privatised, he added. India's coalition government has said that no profitable state-owned companies will be sold. MTNL and BSNL were set for privatisation, but political and legal disputes postponed their sale by the former government. Intelecon Research & Consultancy Ltd. 30/09/2004 |