The Hindu Business Line : `More investments in the pipeline'

INDIA is likely to attract investments to the tune of $800 million from global telecom equipment makers in the current financial year. according to Mr Dayanidhi Maran, Union Minister for IT and Communications.

Addressing a press conference after inaugurating a facility of Elcoteq Network Corporation here, Mr Maran said several majors, including Nokia, Alcatel and LG, had expressed interest in setting up manufacturing units for telecom handsets and equipment in the country.

Mr Maran said the country would touch the figure of 100 million phone lines in a day or two. The number of telephone lines was expected to reach about 250 million over the next three years, he said.

Mr Maran said the Government is considering a change in laws that would allow sharing of telecom infrastructure, such as the towers of public sector BSNL, with other service providers in rural areas, and help spread telephone penetration in the hinterland.

"Cities have reached a saturation point. If service providers have to expand their market, it has to be in rural India ," he said.

On the proposed merger of BSNL and MTNL, Mr Maran said ICICI Bank had submitted several proposals, which would be considered by the IT Ministry in the next few weeks and forwarded to the Cabinet.

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