The state-owned Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd is mulling an overseas arm, MTNL International, to bring all its ventures in foreign countries under one roof.

MTNL chairman and managing director Narendra Sharma said, "We will look at bringing all our overseas ventures under one roof -- probably MTNL International."

MTNL, which has a government holding of 56.25 per cent and is licensed to provide basic, cellular, long-distance telephony and Internet services in Delhi and Mumbai, has several overseas ventures.

To provide basic service in Nepal, MTNL has joined hands with Telecom Consultants India, Videsh Sanchar Nigam and Nepal Ventures to form United Telecom. This joint venture has already made a soft-launch of its WLL-based services in Kathmandu.

Along with TCIL, MTNL has also participated in an operation and management proposal for Pacifictel S A Equador.

MTNL is also eyeing the Mauritius and Malawi markets for basic, cellular and long-distance services. However, it has shelved plans to pick up equity in Sri Lanka Telecom after conducting a feasibility study.

MTNL would tap other markets, once operations in the existing markets stabilise, Sharma said.

MTNL is close to finalising an inter-connect agreement with the Videsh Sanchar Nigam for 2003-04.

Till 2004, all international calls from MTNL and BSNL will be routed through VSNL due to the preferred international carrier status.

The status was part of the compensation package for early termination of its monopoly during VSNL's divestment. MTNL has also filed an application for international long distance licence.

During 2002-03, MTNL added 1.1 lakh subscribers in Mumbai in landline, WLL and cellular segments. It has also added 125,000 capacity in the cellular network In Mumbai. MTNL is adding four lakh lines each for cellular and limited mobility services.