State run telecom service provider Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL) has reported an increase in its operational revenue to Rs 918.6 crore for the quarter ending March 31, 2013, up 10% from Rs 835 crore reported in the previous quarter and up 8.96% from Rs 843.1 crore reported in the same quarter last year. The telco however saw a significant increase in its losses during the quarter, reporting Rs 1,985.9 crore loss, a 68% increase from Rs 1,182 crore loss in the previous quarter and a 44.48% increase from Rs 1,374.5 crore in the same quarter last year. Highlights - In January 2013, MTNL had launched Video Telephony Service on broadband in Delhi and Mumbai. The telco had partnered with the Ahmedabad based ICT solutions provider Sai Infosystem (India) Limited for this service. - MTNL has 2.3 million active mobile subscribers across Delhi and Mumbai, as of March 2013 and currently has a 0.58% market share in the wireless segment, as per the latest TRAI numbers. - MTNL has 1.08 million (pdf) broadband subscribers as of March 2013 and has 7.2% market share in the broadband segment, as per the latest TRAI numbers. - MTNL has 3.46 million (pdf) wireline subscribers as of March 2013 and has 11.45% market share in the wireline segment. - Last month, Kapil Sibal, the Minister of Communications and Information Technology, had attributed the rising losses to Fixed to Mobile substitution, increasing staff expenditure due to a large legacy work force, stiff competition in the mobile sector, payment towards 3G and BWA spectrum charges and a decrease in the average revenue per user (ARPU).…
