Amid rumours ranging from proposed tariff cuts to non-readiness of the network and processes, in a face saving gesture, MTNL "launched" its GSM services today, but with a rider: The services won't actually begin till February 8. According to the offical release, the MTNL cellular service, Dolphin, scheduled for launch from January 31, 2001 has started functioning, with calls being made and recieved on its network. However, the formal inaugural by the Minister of Communications, Ram Vilas Paswan, will happen only on February 7, 2001, with "new connections being released with effect from February 8, 2001."

Industry sources, however, add that MTNL has approached the TRAI to allow it to further reduce prices before the February 7, 2001 deadline. And this section says that the delay is, because the "Delhi network is still not up and running and billing processes are yet to be sorted out." The offical version, however, is: "Network optimisation is being implemented and this optimisation exercise will include energisation of a tower over Shastri Bhavan, which was pending due to security restrictions during the period prior to Republic Day." There is also speculation that MTNL is planning to come up with specialised packages, such as lower tariffs for women, in a bid to attract customers, who abandonned MTNL, once its competitors in Delhi, Essar and Airtel too dropped their prices.

However, a section in the telecom industry says that MTNL will not be allowed to offer special packages, because a similar package by another Delhi based operator, to provide specialized pacakges to doctors and lawyers was denied by the TRAI. Meanwhile, the director, finance, MTNL, Mr S Sundresan, however denies that there has been any such rethinking on tariffs.