Stating this at a discussion on how to make ISPs profitable as part of the IT World '98 Comdex India, MTNL chairman S Rajagopalan expressed confidence that internet will be a very profitable business for his organisation.

Both Rajagopalan and Satyam MD R Ramaraj ruled out any price wars and felt offering access at lower prices will not be possible for the time being. Providing unlimited usage for a fixed price was also ruled out. He stated that MTNL's pricing structure was pending before the MTNL board for approval. The company will make an effort to keep its Net business apart from the telephone business.

Interestingly, MTNL and VSNL have been invited to join the ISP Association also announced that the association was keen to have a international gateway set up by afew ISPs together, rather than several ISPs invest alone in such ventures.