It is reported that MTNL has decided to share its towers with the private companies to mop up additional funds to make up the loss incurred by it. MTNL has posted a loss of about Rs. 2,800 crores in 2010-11. It has got about 1400 towers in Delhi and Mumbai where it operates. It is understood that Expression of Indents (EoI) has also been called for the sharing business.Earlier also MTNL had sharing agreements with some private companies.
It seems that BSNL is also on the look out for sharing of its 40,000 or so towers. It had posted a loss of Rs.1823 crores in 2009-10 and is having more loss in 2010-11, which will be known when the accounts for the year are finalised.
The moot question is whether it will benefit the PSUs or will result in complication and loss of business in the long run? A serious examination is necessary.
BSNL to share towers with private companies?
14 Tuesday Jun 2011
VAN Namboodiri's Blog 
Dear Comrade,
In the Circle Council meeting of Ours ( Assam Circle) we expressed our reservations in sharing BSNL infrastructures with other Telecom Companies on rental basis. On insistence of the administration that it should be accepted by all of us to enhance immediate earning of BSNL to cover up the entire loss of the current financial year, we said that whether the agreements can be made for sharing the infrastructure for three years (Maximum) and whenever BSNL will require it may terminate the agreements with one months notice, whether such conditionalities can be inserted in the agreements, the Circle Authority said that no such conditionalities can be inscribed.
I think, perhaps to we can see the possibilities of inserting those conditions in the agreements while sharing BSNL infrastructures with other Telecom Operators for bringing additional revenues in BSNL Coffer,by maintaining our absolute rights in terminating the agreement with one months notice can be protected as and when we see that the same agreement is not beneficial to us or causing loss of revenues to the BSNL.
I feel the CHQ can talk with BSNL Managements on this points and give its well thought opinions on this issue and guide the circle unions on this point.
Sankar Kumar Das
Guwahati-5