Is Vodafone Idea and BSNL going to merge? The government's answer is here

At present, the government has a 49 percent stake in Vodafone Idea. Now the biggest question has arisen whether the merger of Vodafone Idea and the country's government telecom company BSNL is going to happen? This question is not arising without reason. While the government is reviving BSNL once again. On the other hand, Vodafone Idea is trying to stand up once again and is constantly getting concessions from the government. To reduce its debt, the company has given equity to the government.

The company has done this twice. In such a situation, the government has more than 49 percent stake in VI. This voice is constantly echoing in the corridors of the telecom sector that the merger of the two companies can happen.

Along with this, Jyotiraditya Scindia has also completely cleared the merger plan of Vodafone Idea and BSNL Let us also tell you what kind of things he has said about the future of BSNL.

Is there any such planning

In an interview given to a media agency, Telecom Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia was asked whether there is any planning to merge BSNL and VI. To this he replied in the negative.

Jyotiraditya Scindia said that there is no such planning. If any such news is coming out then it is wrong. The government is not going to merge BSNL and VI.

Earlier, he also answered the question whether the government will increase its stake in VI or not.

Jyotiraditya Scindia replied that this will not happen now.

The government will not increase any stake in Vodafone Idea now. He said that the government already has 49 percent stake in VI. If the stake increases, Vi will become a government company.

What did Scindia say on AGR dues?

Vi's adjusted gross revenue balance and spectrum dues are still very high and will have to be repaid soon. Responding to this, Jyotiraditya Scindia said that this is something that the company will have to deal with. The relief proposal of equity was used, and I have converted it to 49 per cent, otherwise you become a PSU.

What has to be given to the government, it is the responsibility of the players to give that amount to the government. It is clear that the government is no longer in the mood to increase any stake in the company. The company will have to pay the dues.

What is the planning on BSNL

Jyotiraditya Scindia said that BSNL recorded a quarterly net profit of Rs 262 crore after 18 years. This is a big deal after registering net losses for 72 quarters. Now the government is working at a fast pace on BSNL's 4G rollout. He said that till date, we have installed about 90,000 towers, of which 76,000 are operational.

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We are now working on the last mile and by July we will install all 100,000 towers. Once this is done, we are looking at measuring the quality of service and other parameters. Will one lakh towers be enough? To this he said no... but first you install 100,000 towers and stabilize the core. Once this is done, the network can be expanded.

Will 5G be launched simultaneously?

Responding to this, Scindia said no. Once 100,000 towers are installed and the network stabilizes, once we see that the QoS is fine, and then we will start switching. It is not so difficult to go from 4G to 5G.

Are you considering allowing foreign equipment suppliers to bid for BSNL's 5G contract?

He shook his head and said, "We are not doing that. Why should we give up our indigenous technology to foreign players?

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India is now in the select group of 4-5 countries that have developed 4G/5G technology. We will be competitive with foreign companies. We want to take our technology to the world."