MTNL gives EPABX free for subscribers

MUMBAI: MTNL has forged an alliance with telecom switches provider Intellicon to work on a radical business model in the telecom sector. As per this model MTNL's Mumbai and Delhi fixed line users will be provided a free EPABX.

Under the agreement, the users of fixed line telephones of MTNL would be provided a free EPABX with a capacity of 50 ports to 1,000 ports.

The customers subscribing to fixed line phones from MTNL would get the EPABX free of cost. What they would need to pay is rent, based on the number of lines subscribed. MTNL will charge Rs 100 per subscriber and the usage charges as per standard pulse rate.

The fixed line telecom subscribers have twin benefits from this scheme- they can get an EPABX by paying a nominal rental charge per line and without buying a new EPABX. Secondly, the onus of support and maintenance would be on Intellicon.

Facing stiff competition in the fixed line business from the private entry operators, MTNL has come up with various schemes to lure customers and the Intellicon tie-up is another attempt to fuel its fixed line growth.

MTNL is also contemplating to tie-up with several other vendors to boost its other service offerings that include its CDMA service 'Garuda'.

The company is in talks with Chinese handset manufacturer Huawei to provide 3G CDMA handsets.