After dilly-dallying for years, the government has asked the two telecom PSUs, BSNL and MTNL to synergise their operations and function as one entity, pending the merger, offering Pan-India services.

State-owned Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd (MTNL) Wednesday reported a net loss of Rs.605 crore for the quarter ended Sep 30 as against the net profit of Rs.21 crore for the like period of last fiscal.

State-run telecom operator BSNL on Tuesday appointed Mr Gopal Das as acting Chairman and Managing Director after the retirement of Mr Kuldeep Goyal.

Mr Goyal retired as CMD on July 31.

Mr Das, who