BSNL's CMD denied extension, DoT's Robert Ravi to take charge

The Indian government has appointed Robert Jerard Ravi as the Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL), and Bharat Broadband Network Limited (BBNL) for a six-month period. This decision comes as Pravin Kumar Purwar's tenure as CMD of BSNL, MTNL, and BBNL ends on July 14 without an extension. Ravi, currently serving as a senior telecom department official, will assume the additional charge starting July 15, 2024. Purwar's tenure saw multiple revival packages for BSNL but was marked by delays in launching 4G services, impacting the company's competitive edge.