MTNL stands for 'Mera Telephone Nahi Lagega'

MTNL, the state-owned telephone major in the two metro cities of Delhi and Mumbai, became an acronym for 'Mera Telephone Nahi Lagega' in the Rajya Sabha as members complained about the quality of mobile services.

The matter came up during the Question Hour when a Congress member Prema Cariappa complained about the quality of basic wireless and cellular mobile service.

While Communications and Information Technology Minister Dayanidhi Maran asserted that the services of the Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited and Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) were good as well as cheap, a number of members contested the claim.

Dinesh Trivedi (Trinamool Congress) complained that the mobile phones provided to MPs did not function inside Parliament premises.

S S Ahluwalia (BJP) then said MTNL could be described as 'Mera Telephone Nahi Lagega' while BSNL could best be termed as 'Bhai Saheb Nahi Lagega', creating ripples of laughter in the House.

The Minister in reply to another question said MTNL was planning to invest Rs. Rs 1 crore (Rs 10 million) to deploy Wi-Max infrastructure in Delhi and Mumbai, while BSNL has planned investment of about Rs.1.8 crore (Rs 18 million) on Wi-Max in ten cities and towns on pilot basis.

WI-Max technology will help in high-speed wireless access, broadband services on wireless and internet leased line connectivity, among others, he added.