DoT’s plan to spur synergy among 7 PSUs

Dept.’s strategic plan includes optimal use of human resources, vacant land and dispute resolution

Two to tango: Focus is on ensuring better collaboration between BSNL and MTNL, says the Minister.

The government on Thursday unveiled a ‘strategic plan’ to enable seven state-owned companies under the Department of Telecom (DoT) to work closely with an aim of promoting greater operational synergy among them, including pooling in of resources and effective utilisation of human resources as well as land and buildings.

The action plan covers MTNL, BSNL, Indian Telephone Industries (ITI), Centre for Development of Telematics (CDOT), Telecommunications Consultants India Ltd. (TCIL), Testing and Certification of Telecom Equipments (TEC) and BharatNet (BBNL). “Under the plan, we have identified specific areas where our teams will work on including manpower, settlement of legal issues and utilisation of vacant space,” Telecom Minster Manoj Sinha said. He, however, added there were no plans to merge BSNL and MTNL for now.

“There is no thinking in the government on merging the two. But we are taking steps to ensure that collaboration between MTNL and BSNL strengthens and benefits both the organisations,” he told reporters. MTNL shares rose 7.78% to ₹24.25 per share while the ITI scrip climbed 2.13% to ₹126.90 on the BSE.

Work for the strategic plan began in January 2016 when a core committee of senior officers was formed to look into “the whole issue of synergy in totality and prepare a comprehensive plan covering various issues affecting the functioning of different organisations.”

The strategic plan, finalised after several discussions between all stakeholders, entails effective utilisation of human resources, optimum use of vacant space and promoting ‘Make in India’, among other things.

Training manpower

Some units have excess manpower whereas others face a shortage, the minister explained. Under the plan, the Centre intended to train and redeploy manpower, he said.

Also, telecom PSUs will refrain from going to court against one another and, instead, first approach DoT for resolution of disputes. The strategic roadmap will also cover other areas such as standards and certification, and preparing to tap opportunities in areas like 5G and Internet of Things.

These PSUs will also look at pooling in resources to address new business opportunities in Digital India, Smart City and Internet of things, and develop mechanism for sharing of revenues and expenses.