MTNL fixed lines grow on broadband, IPTV push

After more than three years, state-run firm MTNL has checked the trend of falling fixed line connections as customers are again subscribing to landline phones to avail value-added services like broadband.

"The trend of surrendering the phones, which started in 2004, has been reversed. Two main initiatives -- broadband and IPTV have helped us retaining customers," Kuldip Singh, technical director, MTNL, said.

The company has more than 37 lakh fixed line subscribers in Delhi and Mumbai. So far, about 5 lakh subscribers have left MTNL's fixed line services as they switched to mobile phones. While some of them took MTNL's mobile connection, others opted for private mobile services.

"Because of broadband, lots of our customers are coming back and IPTV (cable services) would further improve the situation," Singh said, adding MTNL would soon announce convergent billing for all services like fixed line phone, mobile, broadband and IPTV.

Asked if the company was planning to offer bouquet services by bundling all services into one for a fixed amount of charges, Singh said: "All such schemes are in the offing."

In Delhi, there has been a net addition of fixed line connections for couple of months while in Mumbai it was in the negative zone marginally, Singh said.