MTNL pays Rs 35.43 cr dividend to govt; GSM users touch 36.7 lakhs

New Delhi, Oct 22 (UNI) State-run telecom firm Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd (MTNL) today paid a cheque of Rs 35.43 crores to the government as final dividend for the Financial Year 2007-08, representing 10 per cent of the total dividend for the year.

An amount of Rs 106.3 crores has already been paid to the government as 30 per cent interim dividend towards the government's share in the shareholding of the company, an official statement said here.

In its Annual General Meeting held on September 26,2008, MTNL had approved payment of final dividend at 40 per cent amounting to Rs 252 crores, on the paid up equity capital of Rs 630 crores for the financial year 2007-08.

Meanwhile, the telecom giant said its GSM subscribers have increased by 4,95,037 to 32,41,851 during 2007-08. It has surged further to 36,77,782 as on September 30, 2008.

During the year, the broadband subscribers have surged by 1,01,145 and are 6,03,405 as on September 30, 2008.

The period has also seen a significant growth in the subscriber base of services like IPTV, and VOIP in both Delhi and Mumbai, the statement said.

MTNL had paid dividend at 40 per cent during last year also.

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