New Delhi: The Central government has approved a revival plan for Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) and Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL). According to Minister of State for Communications Devusinh Chauhan, the revival plan inter-alia includes measures to reduce the staff cost through a Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS) for employees of age 50 years and above.

It also includes administrative allotment of spectrum for providing 4G services with funding through budgetary allocation, monetisation of non-core and core assets to generate resources to retire debt, meet capital expenditure and other requirements and debt restructuring by raising sovereign guarantee bonds.

It has also been approved to administratively allot spectrum to BSNL and MTNL for providing 5G services on the same principles as followed for 4G. BSNL and MTNL would roll out 4G and 5G services based on techno-commercial considerations, said Chauhan. /BI/