DoT plans to lease-out BSNL’s fiber based network

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) is planning to lease out state-controlled Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited’s (BSNL) fibre-based network spread over 8 lakh route kilometres aimed to bring in healthy cash flow to further enable the telco to bear capital and operational costs.
The department, according to an industry source, is contemplating to open up dark fibre, owned and operated by the fourth-largest telco that could fetch working capital as well as fund voluntary retirement scheme (VRS), following a proposal made last month.
The ailing BSNL which is yet to get credit worth Rs 3,300 crores from the government, would require as much as Rs 6,500 crore capital expenditure to fund the VRS scheme.