VSNL monopoly can be broken: Jalan panel

The Dr. Jalan Committee is likely to suggest that the monopoly of Videsh Sanchar Nigam Ltd (VSNL) in providing access to the international Internet backbone be removed. Private Internet Service Providers (ISP) may be allowed to interconnect directly with long distance carriers. The Jalan Committee which is formulating policy guidelines for the creation of a National Information Infrastructure (NII), discussed the issue last week. The Committee is also likely to give the green signal for private VSAT networks to interconnect with each other and networks of ISPs and other value-added services.

NSE to resume trading today

The National Stock Exchange will resume trading on Thursday. The exchange successfully shifted 710 VSATs from Insat- 21 to Insat-2A by 3 p.m. on Wednesday. The remaining few are also expected to be successfully shifted. A press release said that trading will resume at 9.30 a.m. on Thursday. However, the exchange has requested its members to log in at least one hour before the start of market, as it had been shut down for the past few days.

MTNL gearing up for mega offer

The domestic telecom major, MTNL, is close to firming up plans for Its biggest market borrowings foray aggregating around Rs. 2,800 crores. The move, which will feature a bond flotation, will be the largest offering ever from the Government monopoly which operates services in Mumbai and New Delhi. While part of the offering will be in the form of plain vanilla bonds, MTNL also has the option of floating infra bonds, considering telecom was accorded infrastructure status in the 1997-98 Budget.

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