History of MTNL
Development in the year 1986
- On 28th February Mahanagar Telephone
Nigam Ltd. was incorporated as a Public Limited Company
under the Companies Act, 1956. The company has been set up
to take over the management, control and operation of Delhi
Telephone District (Excluding public telegraph service) and
Mumbai Telephone District of the Department of
Telecommunications and to plan, establish, develop,
provide, operate and maintain all types of
telecommunication services including Telephone, telex,
wireless, data communication, telematic and other like
forms of communication.
- One of the important objectives of the
company is to raise the necessary finance to meet its own
developmental needs and also that of the telecommunications
board of the Department of Telecommunication.
- The Main objectives and aims of Nigam
are as follows: (1) To upgrade the quality of telecom
services (2) To expand telecom (3) To raise necessary
financial resources (4) To provide new telecommunication
services, particularly needed by the business community and
public administration such as Cellular Mobile Radio
Telephone, Radio Paging, Fascimile Videotex, Teletex,
Electronic Mail etc. (5) To invest in Human Resource
Development (6) To organise and dovetail the training
programmes.
- During November, the Mahanagar
Telephone Nigam Ltd. offered 15,00,000-14% and 10% secured
redeemable non-convertible bonds of Rs 1,000 each for
public subscription to partly meet the fund requirements of
the capital expenditure programmes of the MTNL and DOT
envisaged for the year 1986-87. - Additional 7,50,000 bonds
were issued to retain over subscription. 15,88,460-14%
secured redeemable bonds were privately placed with the
financial institutions and banks.
- All shares issued to President of India
and of which 59,99,984 shares were issued without payment
in cash.
Develeopment in the year 1987
- 1,12,133-14% and 19,26,327-10% bonds of
Rs 1000 each were allotted in February/March. The 14.0% and
10.0% bonds are redeemable after the expiry of 7 years and
10 years respectively from the date of allotment.
Develeopment in the year 1995
- The entire junction network in the
system was fibre based on a step to provide self healing
machanisms to be built in the System through induction of
SDH technology.
Develeopment in the year 1996
- The Company floated on private
placement basis 11th `A` part and 12th Series of bonds
aggregating Rs 359.26 crores for the developmental
programmes of the department of telecommunications.
Develeopment in the year 1997
- The Company took various steps to
provide a host of value added services like datacom, inet,
DIDPABX, Voice Mail, Radio Paging and ISDN.
- In addition to phone plus facilities
like dynamic locking, call waiting/call transfer, hot line
etc. were extended to valued customers. Apart from this
IVRS (Interactive Voice Response System) like local
assistance changed number information, and falut booking
system ensuring round the clock service, a CD-ROM version
of the telephone directory and an on-line directory enquiry
through PC was introduced during the year.
- The Company undertook to provide,
wireless in the local loop in Mumbai and Delhi, GSM Mobile
Telephone in Delhi and Mumbai, B.CDMA pilot project,
Induction of Smart Payphone and introduction of DLC optical
fibre borne system.
- Payment of bills was made hassel free
with the introduction of electronic clearing system and
customer service management system for on-line payment and
adjustment of telephone bills.
- The Company issued 7,00,000 No. of
equity shares representing 3,50,000 GDRs (1 GDR = 2 shares)
at a price of US $ 11.958 per GDR.
Develeopment in the year 1998
- As on 31st March, the waiting list of
the MTNL has 1047 in Delhi and Nil in Mumbai due to its
sustained efforts and timely implementation of various
projects.
- Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd is
considering a proposal to reduce the security, a Wireless
in Local Loop (WiLL) subscriber has to pay to Rs 15,000
from Rs 25,000.
- MTNL has proposed that a WiLL
subscriber`s bank can stand guarantee for this security,
effectively ensuring that there is no real outflow from the
subscriber`s pockets.
- The Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd (MTNL)
board has approved a proposal for setting up a joint
venture company with the Telecom Consultants India Ltd (TCIL)
for operating basic and cellular services.
- The Company is setting up a network in
Kuwait. The project was awarded to TCIL in June 1997. In
Comoros, the company is using C-DoT exchanges for the
telecom network.
- The Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd (MTNL)
is developing a software to protect customers from
telephone tapping and reading by external sources.
- Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd (MTNL)
launched the country`s first toll-free service in Delhi.
- The company will be advertising to
select an international joint venture (JV) partner for its
cellular phone service; MTNL will have a 51 per cent equity
stake in the new company.
- MTNL will set up an integrated
commercial accounting system with help from Tata
Consultancy, Services.
- The state-owned Mahanagar Telephone
Nigam Ltd (MTNL) is all set to give a run to private
cellular operators for their money by launching a
`low-tariff` mobile telephone service to cater to the
salaried middle-class and students.
- Within a few weeks of listing, the MTNL
(Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd) GDR issue was voted as one
of the top 10 Best International Equity Issue in 1997 in a
poll conducted by Euroweek`s International Equity Review,
the respected international business publication.
- In the polls, MTNL secured the awards
of the 10th best international equity issue of 1997; fourth
best Asian equity issue of 1997; and second best Indian
equity issue of 1997.
- Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd., is
undertaking a restructuring plan to ward off competition
and streamline costs.
- Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd (MTNL) is
holding parleys with banks, FIs and mutual funds for making
a private placement of bonds worth Rs.450 crore.
Develeopment in the year 1999
- Mahanagar Telephone Nigam (MTNL) has
proposed a cash-and-stock deal to the Department of
Telecommunications (DoT).
- Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd (MTNL)
has proposed a joint venture with Telecom Consultants India
Ltd (TCIL) to become the second basic telecom services
provider in West Bengal and Jammu and Kashmir.
- The Department of Telecommunications (DoT)
and Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd (MTNL) have shot down the
Delhi and Mumbai cellular operators` proposal for an
out-of-court-settlement of the litigation of MTNL`s entry
into cellular services.
- Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd (MTNL) on
Tuesday entered into direct competition with another state
owned public sector unit Videsh Sanchar Nigam Ltd (VSNL)
for Internet services by offering a 15 per cent lower
tariff.
- International telecommunications
provider Videsh Sanchar Nigam Limited (VSNL) will enter the
national long distance telephony segment when it is opened
up for competition in 2000.
- Mahanagar Nigam Telephone Ltd (MTNL) on
Wednesday released the new telephone director called Phone
Book 1999 after a gap of four years.
- The MTNL Board has proposed a stock
option price of around Rs. 85 per cent share to the
department of telecommunications (DoT) as against the
market price of around Rs. 85 per share to the department
of telecommunications (DoT) as against the market price of
around Rs. 170 before the recent political upheaval.
- State-owned Mahanagar Telephone Nigam
Ltd is expanding the wireless in local loop (WLL) network,
both in Mumbai and Delhi up to 50,000 and 10,000
subscribers respectively. In Delhi, they are expanding the
network to 10,000 from the existing 1,000 subscribers. In
Mumbai the network would be expanded to 50,000 subscriber.
- Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd (MTNL)
has proposed that the government should dovetail its
disinvestment programme of a $100 million Global Depository
Receipt (GDR) issue with the company`s plan to become the
first Indian firm to be listed on the New York Stock
Exchange (NYSE) within the next three months.
Develeopment in the year 2000
- Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd (MTNL)
tied up with MasterCard International to pioneer the
acceptance of credit cards for payment of telephone bills.
- The Company will do the soft launch of
its GSM-based monbile services in Delhi and Mumbai.
- The Company is likely to be listed on
New York Stock Exchange next month with the public sector
telecom giant getting clearance from the bourse.
- The Company has proposed increase in
the pulse rate of local call for the internet usage to five
minutes from three minutes to make internet usage
affordable.
- The Company will launch its cellular
service in Mumbai from August 15.
- The Company has awarded the Rs 32 crore
contract for Fixed Wireless Terminals for its CDMA network
in Delhi.
- The Company and American Express travel
related services entered into alliance for india`s first
co-branded telecom credit card MTNL American Express credit
card. - The company will mull a tie-up with portals
rediff.com and satyamonline.com at a meeting.
- The Company has setting up both basic
and cellular services in Nepal.
- Telecom services in the national
capital of Mumbai were partially affected due to one day
token strike by non-executive employees of the company
demanding revision of pay scales, perks and allowances.
- The Employees of the Company in New
Delhi went on a one-day strike on 4th June demanding
revision of pay scales and perks. The staff threatened to
go on an indefinite strike from July 11.
- The Proposed strike of the Company
staff unions has been deferred to 21st July.
- The state owned Mahanagar Telephone
Nigam Ltd. will set up a submarine cable landing station.
- The company has to explore possibility
of entering a joint venture with another state owned
company Videsh Sanchar Nigam for just opened Long Distance
telephony.
- Narendra Sharma has been appointed as
the new chairman and managing director of the company.
- The company has opened two additional
customer service centres at Chembur in Mumbai.
- The Company will expand its `common
man` mobile telephone network by 50,000 new lines in the
current financial year.
- Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited to
launch its cellular phone service in Mumbai in January next
with a subscriber capacity of 1,00,000 lines.
- Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd. has
transferred its Internet Service Provider Category-A
licence as well as Internet business to its subsidiary,
Millennium Telecom.
Develeopment in the year 2001
- MTNL is to develop a dedicated division
to spearhead its cellular operations in Delhi and Mumbai.
- Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL)
will introduce a cash card for its cellular subscribers
within two months of starting its cellular Operations on
Jan. 31.
- The Company Chairman Narinder Sharma
has bagged the international `Millienium Man of the Year`
award, instiutted by the international award committee of
Wisitex Foundation.
- Dolphin, the much-awaited cellular
service of MTNL, was launched in Delhi on 6th Feb.
- The Company proposes to provide
additional net switching capacity of 3.30 lakh lines and to
deploy 50,000 lines of CDMA-based WLL technology during the
year 2001-02.
- The Company and Videsh Sanchar Nigam
Limited have both signed memoranda of understanding with
the Department of Telecommunications outlining their
performance agenda for the coming financial year.
- The Company has tied up with
Billjunction.com to provide online bill presenting and
payment facility to its customers.
- The Company will have a roaming
facility in its cellular service, Dolphin, by the end of
this month
- The Company has tied up with WorldTel
to offer basic telecom services in Bangaladesh as part of
the corporation`s proposed move to diversify into overseas
operations.
- Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL)
has roped in ICRA to chart out a strategy to leverage the
human resources of the telecom company
- The Delhi High Court has upheld the
appointment of Narinder Sharma as chairman-cum-managing
director of MTNL, saying there was no merit in a writ
petition challenging it.
- Dolphin, the cellular service promoted
by State-owned telecom operator MTNL, seems to be catching
on.In October, Dolphin registered 13,000 new subscribers in
Mumbai, increasing its base to 33,000. Around 30 per cent
of these new connections have defected to Dolphin from
incumbent cellular operators, Orange or BPL, according to
MTNL officials.
- IDBI Bank has forged an alliance with
MTNL in Delhi to help the account holders of the bank to
pay their phone bills through ATMs and Internet.
Develeopment in the year 2002
-Announces its launch of Wireless in
Local Loop (WLL) service in Mumbai
-Launches its pre-paid cellular card
`Trump` with tariffs 50 per cent lower than that of the
private players in Delhi and Mumbai
-Govt. pemits MTNL, BSNL to compete in
basic services
-Sets up a new software venture called
ComSoft for developing communications software, as a part
of its strategy to offer value-added communications
software in e-commerce, e-governance and intelligent
networking
-IDBI Bank signs MoU with MTNL for bill
payment
-Announces unlimited cell calls for Rs
1900
-MTNL stock price records nine-year-low
of Rs 95
-Announces new codes for MTNL consumers
in Delhi
-MTNL stops sales of its pre-paid card
Trump
Develeopment in the year 2003
-Misses WLL-M expansion deadline in Delhi
-Partners with RailTel Corporation of
India Ltd. to offer telecom bandwidth vide optical fibre
cable (OFC) along its track network
-Announces free incoming calls
-Formulates VRS for employees
-Department of Telecommunications (DoT)
signs Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) for 2003-04 with
Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd (MTNL)
-Slashes number of free calls
-Forms Joint Venture with VSNL and
Telecommunications Consultants India Ltd (TCIL) to provide
Basic & WLL telephone services in Nepal
-Trai rejects MTNL`s new WLL tariffs
-Cuts down cellular tariffs to take on
private sector competition
-Awards WLL-M handset contract to Kyocera
of Japan
-Reduces tariff rates by 50% on CDMA
services
-Shelves global long distance plan
-Approves VRS for its employees
-Gets licence for providing telephone
service and ILD services in Mauritius
-Joins hands with Nokia, Samsung for WLL
handsets
-Launches new tariff plan where the
monthly rental will be Rs 100 and the call charges will be
Rs. 1.90 per minute
-Launched a new scheme offering a fixed
line telephone connection for Rs 100 per month, on which
the customer can access free incoming calls. For outgoing
calls, the customers will have to use Virtual Credit Cards
(VCC). Thus, the offer introduces a hybrid post-paid cum
prepaid arrangement for a fixed line phone.
-1. Shri Narinder Sharma - ceased to be
CMD wef October 31, 2003 on retirement from service on
attaining the age of Superannuation. 2. Shri R S P Sinha -
Director (F) has been entrusted the officiating charge of
the post of CMD for a period of 3 months wef November1,
2003. 3. Shri I C Srivastava - ceased to be the Director
wef October 8, 2003 due to death 4. Shri P C Rawal - ceased
to be the Director wef October 29, 2003 5. Dr J S Sarma -
appointed as Govt. Director in place of P C Rawal wef
October 29, 2003 6. Smt Monika Arora - tendered her
resignation wef November 11, 2003 and ceased to be the
director from the said date.
-MTNL has come out of its `negative trap`
with its fixed-line subscribers outgrowing surrenders, even
as it launched a new scheme, `Plan 160`, for basic
telephony subscribers.
-MTNL has informed that Shri AK Girotra
and Shri RL Dubey, Executive Director Delhi and Mumbai
respectively have been appointed as ex-officio directors on
the Board of MTNL wef December 19, 2003
-MTNL unveils `Economy Plan` for WLL
services
Develeopment in the year 2004
-MTNL launches new schemes for ISDN
subscribers
-MTNL unveils SMS facilities on its
landlines for its customers
-MTNL bags licence to offer telecom
services in Mauritius, Kenya
- MTNL and BSNL have entered into a
strategic alliance, under which the two public-sector
telecom companies will jointly offer their voice and data
services
-MTNL Ltd. has informed that Sh. A. K.
Girotra, and Sh. R.L. Dubey, Executive Director, Delhi and
Mumbai respectively have been appointed as ex-officio
directors on the Board of MTNL w.e.f. December 19, 2003.
-Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd (MTNL) on
January 09, 2004, announced a special tariff plan for basic
service users with Rs 160 monthly rental aiming at low end
users. Under this special plan, there would be no free
calls as available under other tariff packages.
-ITI queries on MTNL deal with Huawei
-MTNL bags award for excellence in cost
reduction
<>-MTNL awards GSM line contract for
Motorola
-Mahanagar Telephone Nigam has launched
new leased line services, with both `full` and `compressed`
bandwidth circuits, for port speeds ranging from 64 kpbs to
two mbps
-MTNL join hands with BSNL to target
corporate clients
-To be continued .......... |