MTNL bids for telecom services in Kenya

State-run Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd has bid for a national telecom operator licence in Kenya for fixed line and cellular services.

"Yes...We have made a bid for telecom operations in Kenya. It is an independent bid," MTNL Chairman and Managing Director R S P Sinha told reporters here.

Kenyan government had invited bids for second national telecom operator to provide fixed and mobile telephone services. The bids are expected to be opened on October 27.

Anil Ambani-controlled Reliance Communications has also bid for the licence.

Asked whether MTNL had made the bid jointly with private sector Reliance, Sinha said: "We don't have any problems with anybody else.

"But it should benefit MTNL. Today there is no concrete proposal for a joint bid. We have made independent bids for the Kenyan venture and are competing with each other."

Kenyan Telecom Commission has shortlisted three bids - from MTNL, Reliance and Dubai-based Vtel. The winner of the licence would be able to offer mobile services, an Internet backbone, international voice gateway as well as national and international fixed line services in the African country.

The license is expected to be awarded by January.