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MTNL may partner BSNL in Sankhya Vahini

Thomas K Thomas & Bipin Chandran

Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd is exploring the possibility of partnering Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd in the Rs 10-billion Sankhya Vahini project following the exit of Carnegie Mellon University.

Meanwhile, BSNL said it may approach Stanford University, which earlier had evinced interest for a technology tie-up with the PSU.

Government sources said: "There is an opportunity for MTNL to expand its operations. MTNL would like to take advantage of the situation, if BSNL decides to go ahead with the project."

Sources said the issue would be discussed internally before BSNL is formally approached. Minister of Communication and IT Pramod Mahajan said the exit of IUNet - a subsidiary of Carnegie Mellon - would not affect the bandwidth availability in the country.

"Our objective of meeting the bandwidth requirement of the country by 2004, is intact. Bandwidth infrastructure is not dependent on any particular joint venture or a company. We have several options and other projects to fulfill the requirements."

Mahajan, who was addressing the Economic Editors' Conference, said the future of the Sankhya Vahini project would be decided by BSNL which may consider scouting for another partner or managing it alone.

DPS Seth, chairman and managing director of BSNL, said that the PSU would be examining various options but the final decision would not impact the bandwidth availability.

"There is enough capacity. BSNL on its own is offering 40 GB to 80 GB bandwidth through the DWDM project, another 2.5 GB through the Sanchar Sagar project. There is another 20 GB bandwidth project too."

When asked if BSNL is thinking of resurrecting the proposal from Stanford University, Seth said: "We are looking at all options, which may include approaching the Stanford University."

Sankhya Vahini was a proposed joint venture between IUNet and the government for expanding the bandwidth capacity to promote educational and research activities in the country.

IUNet in a communication to the prime minister, recently, had said that it was withdrawing from the project owing to the delay in take-off.

The project was approved by the Cabinet almost two years back but ran into controversy with a section of the Sangh Parivar opposing it on the grounds that the project posed a serious threat to national security.

Mahajan, however, clarified that the delays were not intentional but were due to the changes in the ministry.

"The earlier agreement was between DoT and IUNet. But after the corporatisation of DoT, the proposal required the approval of the BSNL board and the Cabinet all over again."

He added that a Cabinet note for this was under preparation.

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