VSNL monopoly to end by April, 2002: Paswan

The government on Wednesday decided to end the monopoly of the Videsh Sanchar Nigam Limited (VSNL) over international calls by April 1, 2002.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) presided over by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee who is leaving on a tour of the United States on Wednesday night.

Talking to reporters after the CCEA meeting, Communications Minister Ramvilas Paswan said that the government would compensate the VSNL for the losses it would incur due to the end of its monopoly ahead of the earlier schedule of 2004.

Bureau Report