Nokia and others receive interim payments from BSNL

India’s national carrier BSNL, shorter for Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited, has been in financial troubles recently, with many partners, including Nokia, threatening to stop providing services because of late payments. According to Economic Times, the national carrier did start re-paying part of the debt owed to network companies.

Nokia and ZTE received 150 crore rupees (1.5 billion rupees or 21 million US dollars) as interim payments, but there is no clarity, according to ET sources, when all the obligations will be fully paid.

BSNL’s debt to ZTE is Rs. 1,300 crore (182 million USD), to Nokia it is Rs. 1,200 crore (168 million USD), while Swedish Ericsson is owed Rs. 120 crore (16.8 million USD). Another obligation exists towards UTStarcom, which is owed Rs. 500 crore (70 million USD).

“We have received a partial amount and we welcome that. A large amount is still outstanding and we hope that it will be disbursed soon to help us support BSNL in their 4G expansion plans,” a Nokia spokesperson said to ET.