With BSNL gearing up to start its own international long distance services, Tata group company VSNL has asked the PSU to look at the possibility of either leasing or buying out it's infrastructure instead of setting it up its own.VSNL carries 85% of BSNL's ILD traffic to various destinations at present and it would be in the interest of the country's largest telecom operator either to buy out or lease VSNL's existing ILD infrastructure without duplicating set-up for carrying ILD traffic, VSNL sources said.VSNL is likely to send a letter to BSNL in this regard in the coming days. They also said this would also save the PSU from heavy spending on creation of such infrastructure when it already exists.VSNL proposals come at a time when the PSU is gearing up to set up its own ILD gateways in five cities in the next two months. Sources said the move of BSNL would certainly impact the revenues of VSNL as BSNL would not divert its traffic through VSNL network any longer.But the larger picture is that in a country like India, there is a need to minimise expenditure on avoidable expenses which can be better utilised to push up tele-density. BSNL need not set up its own ILD gateways, they could lease VSNL infrastructure or buy it altogether, VSNL sources said.
