State-owned telecom companies BSNL (Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd) and MTNL (Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd) have earned ₹12,984.86 crore by selling some of their assets since 2019. This information was shared by Minister of State for Communications Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar in a written reply to the Lok Sabha on March 12, 2025.
Breakdown of Earnings
- BSNL: Earned ₹2,387.82 crore by selling land and buildings and ₹8,204.18 crore from telecom infrastructure like towers and fiber.
- MTNL: Earned ₹2,134.61 crore from land and buildings and ₹258.25 crore from telecom assets.
The minister clarified that only non-essential assets (those not needed in the near future) are being sold. This move is part of the government’s plan to revive struggling state-run telecom firms and make better use of available resources.
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Impact on MTNL Shares
After this announcement, MTNL’s stock price jumped 14.24%, reaching ₹49.51 in today’s trading. The company, which provides telecom services in Mumbai and Delhi, saw a slight improvement in its finances.
- MTNL’s net loss reduced to ₹836.07 crore in Q3 FY25, compared to ₹839.03 crore in Q3 FY24.
- However, its revenue from operations fell by 11.53% to ₹170.07 crore in the quarter ending December 31, 2024.
As of December 2024, the Government of India owned 56.25% of MTNL.
