BSNL PAYS MAIDEN INTERIM DIVIDEND
OF RS.250 CRORE
The country’s largest
telecom operator, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) have paid
an interim dividend cheque of Rs.250 crore. A maiden cheque to
this effect for the year 2002-2003 was presented by the Chairman-cum-Managing
Director of the BSNL, Shri Prithipal Singh to the Union Minister
for Communications, Information Technology and Disinvestment,
Shri Arun Shourie here yesterday.
BSNL, despite fierce
competition in the sector, has been able to retain its leadership.
The company declared a dividend of Rs.500 crores @ 10% for the
previous financial year. As per the Government directive only
50% of the declared amount was payable to the Government of India.
In October, 2002,
the company launched the cellular service - Cell One and Excel
the Pre-paid Mobile Service that has registered a phenomenal growth.
The total customers in the cellular service have grown to over
20 lakhs in the record time of approx. 3-4 months. The latest
in the value-added services of BSNL was launch of broadband service
in Kolkata in which the customers have been offered through the
telephone lines interactive TV network and other services.
