BSNL Close to Sealing Intra-Circle Roaming Deals With Reliance Jio, Vodafone, Airtel

The state-owned BSNL is close to finalising intra-circle roaming (ICR) agreements with Reliance Jio, Aircel and Vodafone as it looks at a revenue potential of Rs. 500 crores per year through such deals. The company is looking at closing the deals by March 31.

"The ICR agreements with Vodafone, Aircel and Reliance Jio are in the final stages and these are likely to be completed by March 31," BSNL Chairman and managing Director Anupam Shrivastava told PTI.

At this point of time, BSNL is looking into legal and techno-commercial aspects of the agreement. Other than these three players, he said, testing of network is going on with Airtel and Telenor.

"We are looking at a revenue potential of Rs. 500 crores on annual basis through ICR agreements with other operators," Shrivastava said.

As per the ICR agreement, BSNL will charge Rs. 0.25 per call for a minute, Rs. 0.3 an SMS and Rs. 0.25 per MB for data usage. The telecom firm will pay the same charges to other operators for using their network.

Earlier this week, BSNL's Assam telecom circle said it plans to lay 2,747km cable to cover 1,010 gaon panchayats (GP) in 91 blocks and 19 districts of Assam.

"Under the National Optical Fiber Network (NOFN) Project we have planned to lay 2,747km of cable to cover 1,010 gaon panchayats (GP) in 91 blocks and 19 districts of Assam", BSNL Assam Telecom Circle Chief General Manager M K Seth said.