Mumbai, May 4: Telecom behemoth, Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd, hopes to have its cellular phone service network in place before June this year, its chairman and managing director S Rajagopal said. Talking to reporters Rajagopal said that he hoped to make his first call through an MTNL-enabled cell phone network before he retired in another two months' time. MTNL is among the successful bidders for Mumbai and Delhi circles. The MTNL chief was reluctant to answer any queries on his company's listing on the NYSE (New York Stock Exchange) pleading strict US laws which prevented him from saying anything. "It is on schedule," he said, adding "except for a delay of 15 days."MTNL is also looking at tie-ups with software companies in its quest to offer value added services. However the company will focus on its core competence of the telecommunications sector, he added. Earlier addressing members and official of the BSE, Rajagopal said that there was a distinct change in the mind set of his officers in the company in that they were going out seeking business and contracts instead of waiting for clients to approach them.
"Instead of governing a sector, we have become players in the sector," he observed.
Rajagopalan also said the company is willing to provide financial assistance to Indian Institutes of Technology for floating a consortium or joint venture to develop indigenous equipment for the telecom sector. "MTNL has money and is willing to start a venture capital company to fund such ventures related to telecom and patented to us as very little is spent on R&D in this sector," he said. "We will welcome any projects undertaken by IITs dedicated to telecom."
He said there was no immediate plans for MTNL to enter e-commerce "as we do not have much strength but will look into the business proposition if we get a partner."
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