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MTNL mulls acquiring cellular companies' business

The Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd is seriously thinking of acquiring businesses of companies providing cellular services in order to expand its operations beyond Bombay and Delhi.

"MTNL has many routes open to expand cellular services beyond two metropolitan cities and this could include a joint venture with VSNL and acquiring business in the circles," MTNL chairman and managing director Narendra Sharma said on Monday.

He, however declined to elaborate further, but said that a separate division would look after the cellular operations in Bombay and Delhi.

Speaking to reporters at the 'SP World 2001', an Internet service providers' conference, he said that response for 'Dolphin', its cellular service, registration in Delhi has been encouraging.

In Bombay, applications are to be accepted from February 15, Sharma said.

With convergence fast becoming a reality, "We will have to change our approach from providing services to selling various telecom products," he said.

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