Indian state-owned operator MTNL is calling for bidders from companies interested in providing 3G roaming in Delhi and Mumbai.
MTNL is offering operators which were unable to acquire spectrum in those areas – only Bharti, Vodafone and Reliance won spectrum in Delhi and Mumbai – the option to augment their coverage areas, Trading Marketssaid.
The roaming plan will give an estimated MTNL up to 3 billion rupees ($64.7 million) in extra annual revenue – enough to make its 3G operations commercially viable.
Any roaming arrangements negotiated under the plan will be one-way only, as MTNL has an exclusive roaming agreement with fellow state-owned operator BSNL.
The minimum cost of any agreement will be 7 million rupees per operator per metro area. Around 5 million of this will be a fixed charge, with the remainder a levy for using the 3G network.
MTNL has invited bids from two operators so far for each of the circles.
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