'No unbundling of fixed line networks'

Turning down the persistent demand by private telecom players, the government today reiterated that it would not unbundle the fixed line networks of BSNL and MTNL for providing broadband access.

"It is clearly evident from international experience that unbundling of local loop has been unsuccessful. Wireless is going to dominate the broadband sector and it is the future. We have taken the earlier call that there is no need to unbundle as it will not serve the purpose," Communications and IT Minister Dayanidhi Maran said here on the sidelines of a seminar organised by Nasscom.

"There are around 48 million fixed line users in the country today, 70 per cent of whom are in urban areas, which uses broadband technology. We have around 1.5 million broadband connections," he said, adding that the focus would be on WiMax technology.

Private players have been demanding the unbundling of the huge network of BSNL and MTNL's fixed line phones to push broadband connections.

If allowed to use the existing network, private players argue that they will make services more affordable.