An empowered group of ministers (EGoM), working towards the revival plan of the loss-making Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) and Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL), has taken a decision to refund the amount paid by the two operators for broadband wireless access (BWA) spectrum that was later surrendered. The two operators? had paid Rs 110 billion for the BWA spectrum in 2010.
In addition, the GoM, headed by P. Chidambaram, Minister of Finance, also cleared a proposal to provide pension to MTNL employees. The pension expenses amount to Rs 5.7 billion annually, out of which MTNL will pay Rs 1.7 billion and the remaining amount of Rs 4 billion will be paid by the government.
Earlier, the state-run operators requested the government to refund the fee paid by them in 2010 for acquiring BWA spectrum in the 2.5 GHz band. BSNL and MTNL had sought a refund of Rs 67.24 billion and Rs 57 billion, respectively.
