The government has rescued Vodafone Idea through a relief package. In the name of “Telecom Reforms”, the government has postponed payment of Rs.1.31 lakh crores, for four years. This amount is to be paid by Airtel, Vodafone Idea and Jio. This is against the order of the Supreme Court of India. The Supreme Court had already rejected the prayer of the private telecom companies, to postpone this payment. Thus, the government is going to the extent of by-passing the Supreme Court order, to help the private telecom companies. 

However, the same government is not allowing BSNL to launch it’s 4G service. Further, the government has also decided to sell out 14,197 mobile towers of BSNL and MTNL. The government has taken these steps only to weaken BSNL. Naturally, the question arises, as to whose government is this? Is it the government of the corporates or the government of the people? 

In the name of “Telecom Reforms”, the Union Cabinet has announced a bailout package for the private telecom companies. It has been announced only to bailout Vodafone Idea which is in the verge of bankruptcy. There is nothing in the package for the ailing BSNL and MTNL. The CITU has strongly denounced this so called “Telecom Reforms” announced by the government. The statement of CITU is enclosed.

The Union Cabinet has approved certain reforms for the telecom sector. It includes nine structural reforms and five process reforms, mainly intended to help the three private telecom companies.

Vodafone Idea, one among the three major private telecom companies, is in the verge of a collapse. It must be understood that, the telecom reforms have been announced urgently, only to  salvage Vodafone Idea.

All the three private telecom companies are badly hit by the judgement delivered by the Supreme Court of India last year. There was a long standing dispute between the government and the private telecom companies, as to whether the ‘non-telecom revenues’ should be included for calculating the payment of License Fee and Spectrum Usage Charge. The Supreme Court delivered the judgement in favour of the government. As a result of this, all the three private telecom companies have been compelled to pay an amount of Rs.1.31 lakh crores. The Supreme Court has ordered that this amount should be paid over a period of ten years.

However, through the decision taken in the Cabinet, the government has deferred the aforementioned payment, for a period of four years. Even after the expiry of four years, the private companies need not compulsorily pay the amount. This is because, as per the decision of the Cabinet, the government can convert this outstanding amount into equity.  The government companies of BSNL and MTNL are not benefited by this decision.  

As a result of this decision, hereafter, the telecom companies need not pay License Fee or Spectrum Usage Charge for their Non-Telecom Revenues. However, this decision will benefit BSNL and MTNL only in a very small way, since their Non-Telecom Revenues are negligible.

Until now, the spectrum allotted to the telecom companies through auctioning, is for a period of 20 years. Hereafter, this tenure will be for 30 years. Again, this will only help the private telecom companies, because the spectrum being allotted to BSNL and MTNL  are for free.

Further, until now, only 49% FDI has been allowed under the Automatic Route. Any amount of FDI, beyond this limit, had to go through the Government Route. But, now, the Union Cabinet has decided to allow 100% FDI, under the automatic route. This decision of the government is detrimental to the security of the nation, since, this has opened the doors for the multinational companies to completely take over the Indian private telecom companies.

 The government is already trying it’s best to kill BSNL and MTNL. In case BSNL and MTNL are closed down in future, then the entire telecom operations will go into the hands of foreign companies. Telecom sector is considered to be the second line of defence. Hence, the decision of the government to allow 100% FDI under the Automatic Route is detrimental to the safety and security of the nation.

Above all, the so-called telecom reforms approved by the Union Cabinet, do not have much to offer to the ailing BSNL and MTNL. BSNL is already crippled because, the government is not allowing BSNL to procure 4G equipments. Private companies are procuring their equipments from global vendors. However, BSNL has been mandated to procure it’s 4G equipments only from domestic vendors. No Indian company is having proven 4G technology. Thus, the government has wantonly created road-blocks in the launching of 4G services by BSNL. Further, the government has to pay outstanding dues to BSNL, to the extent of Rs.39,000 crore. Timely repayment of this amount by the government will enable BSNL to invest in the expansion of it’s networks. However, it is regrettable that, the Union Cabinet has not taken any decision to allow BSNL to come out of it’s crisis. 

BSNLEU is organising a “Young Employees Convention” on 19.09.2021. This online convention will start sharply at 10:30 am. Com.Animesh Mitra, President, BSNLEU, will preside over the convention. Shri Arvind Vadnerkar, Director (HR), BSNL, will deliver the inaugural address on the topic of “the role of young employees in BSNL”. Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS, BSNLEU, will deliver the key-note address on the topic of “the role of trade union in safeguarding the interests of the young employees and BSNL”. Com.Suresh Kumar, General Secretary, SNATTA, has kindly consented to deliver the special address. BSNLEU cordially invites the young employees to participate in this convention. Link for the convention will be sent through Whatsapp shortly.

The CHQ has directed the circle unions to send the list of young employees, who will participate in the “Young Employees Convention”, to be organised online on 19.09.2021. It is regrettable to note that, only Haryana, UP(West) and Madhya Pradesh circles have sent the list so far. Today, i.e., 14^th September, 2021, is the last date for sending the list to the CHQ. Hence, the remaining circles are requested to immediately send the list. 

Massive demonstrations were organised throughout the country today, as per the call of the Co-ordination Committee of BSNLEU, AIBDPA and BSNLCCWF. Thundering slogans were raised demanding settlement of 3^rd Wage Revision, Pension Revision and other important demands. This is the first of the three staged agitational programme, that has been called on by the Co-ordination Committee. CHQ heartily congratulates all the circle and district unions which have successfully organised today's programme.

BSNL Corporate Office at New Delhi, witnessed a spirited demonstration today, organised by the Co-ordination Committee of BSNLEU, AIBDPA and BSNLCCWF. The demonstration was organised at the main gate of the Corporate Office. The privatisation of Public Sector, the selling out of BSNL’s mobile towers, were condemned. Thundering slogans were raised, demanding immediate settlement of 3^rd Wage Revision, Pension Revision, settlement of medical bills, holding of the LICEs, etc. Com.P.Abhimanyu, General Secretary, addressed the gathering and condemned the privatisation of PSUs and selling out of BSNL’s towers. He demanded immediate settlement of all the demands. He also thanked the Corporate Office, NTR circle, UP(West) and Haryana circle unions for making the demonstration a grand success.