The strategic plan is aimed at creating synergies among the telecom
PSUs, which includes frameworks to facilitate manpower sharing, utilize
vacant land and buildings, boost technology and settle legal issues and
financial claims
New Delhi: The department of telecommunications (DoT) on Thursday
unveiled a strategic plan to create synergies among its seven public
sector units (PSUs) which includes frameworks to facilitate manpower
sharing, utilize vacant land and buildings, boost technology innovation
and export promotion and, importantly, settle legal issues and financial
claims.
“The world over, telecom sector is moving towards massive
consolidation... harnessing synergy is now an imperative not a luxury...
our PSUs must come together. Turf issues often come to the fore at the
lower level, but at a higher level, I hope (officials at PSUs) can rise
above turf issues and leverage each other’s strengths,” telecom
secretary Aruna Sundararajan said.
There are seven PSUs under the DoT—Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL),
Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd (MTNL), Bharat Broadband Network Ltd
(BBNL), Telecommunications Consultants India Ltd (TCIL), ITI Ltd, Centre
for Development of Telematics (C-DoT), and Telecommunication
Engineering Centre (TEC).
PSUs under DoT will be prohibited from going to court against each
other, the framework released on Thursday stated. A PSU should first
approach the DoT; timelines have been laid down for appointment of an
arbitrator and arriving at a settlement. If the dispute is not solved,
it will be referred to the law ministry for settlement through the
Permanent Machinery of Arbitration.
BSNL, BBNL, MTNL, TCIL and ITI, through a memorandum of understanding,
have also developed a framework to address payment issues that arise
among them during execution of contracts. Apart from this, the DoT
framework also calls for deployment of excess manpower on a contract or
project basis, and sets definite timelines for identification of excess
manpower in lending PSUs, finalising terms and conditions for completion
of manpower deployment to projects in borrowing organizations. All
information regarding vacant land and buildings will be put on a common
portal developed by BBNL. This is expected to save resources as BSNL and
MTNL have a lot of vacant space, while other PSUs need space and take
it on lease from outside organizations.
While BSNL and MTNL provide telecom services, BBNL is tasked with
creating broadband infrastructure in rural areas. TCIL is a consultancy
for telecom projects in India and overseas; ITI manufactures telecom
products; C-DoT is an autonomous body engaged in telecom research and
development; and TEC advises the government on technology and policy
issues.
Other MoUs signed included one between TEC and C-DoT to work together to
prepare a road map on various technologies. Another has TCIL teaming up
with ITI to utilize spare optical fibre manufacturing capacity of Tamil
Nadu Telecommunications Ltd, a joint venture between TCIL and the
government of Tamil Nadu.
TCIL, ITI and C-DoT have entered into an MoU for export of products and services to foreign markets.
C-DoT has also signed an agreement with ITI that would provide the
latter licence to manufacture, market and sell C-DoT’s terabit router
technology which aims to reduce the country’s dependence on imports.
Source: livemint.
Source: livemint.
