MTNL to be telecom service provider to Commonwealth Games

MTNL has struck gold. It has bagged a huge opportunity for branding and revamping MTNL’s image in India and perhaps overseas, by being appointed the telecom service provider for Commonwealth Games, Delhi 2010. It is learnt that several other private sector telecom service providers were also in the race for this mandate, but MTNL has emerged the final winner.

The reason for the interest shown by many service providers is that it offers firms a rare opportunity to associate their brand with a global sporting event of this significance. The association enhances status, redefines values, and allows the company to launch new products and services in the 443-day lead up to Commonwealth Games as well as during and after the Games.

The organizing committee of the Commonwealth Games, Delhi 2010, has officially appointed MTNL through a communication dated 6th June 2009. This engagement is a result of long negotiations held over many months between MTNL and the organizing committee, subject to terms and conditions including scope of work, service level norms and other commercial arrangements that have been finalized between the two parties.

The signing of the formal contract between the Games organizing committee and MTNL is expected soon. Confirming the development, MTNL’s CMD, RSP Sinha told.

"MTNL’s appointment as the telecom service provider to Commonwealth Games, Delhi 2010, is a matter of tremendous prestige. We plan to use the run up to the Games as a period to deliver the latest services on world class, state-of-the-art technology platforms to athletes, officials and visitors during the Games."

It is clear that while MTNL will need serious investment to upgrade the Delhi infrastructure, the long-term beneficiary of such investments will be the average telecom user in the city.

MTNL has plans to invest both on the wireless and wireline to provide world class connectivity. Global data transmission across the world will be at an all-time high during the games, and that’s where MTNL’s network will need to excel by meeting global standards.