BSNL should unbundle copper lines: DoT

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An internal committee of the Department of Telecom has suggested unbundling of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited’s last-mile copper lines to private operators which will allow the them to use the state owned operator’s nationwide fixed line network for offering broadband services.

The private players will have to pay a fee to BSNL for using the copper cables. BSNL has an extensive copper network that currently runs to 30 million subscribers and can be ramped up to support several million subscribers.

Allowing private players to ride on its network will generate additional revenue for the PSU. The DoT panel has, however, suggested that only excess capacity after meeting BSNL’s own requirement for the next three years, may be left open for the private players.