State-owned Indian operator BSNL is hopeful of getting its unions on board for its proposed US$10 billion IPO, its chairman said today, reports Reuters. “There are positive responses,” Kuldeep Goyal told reporters. “They [unions] are discussing with the employees… they have said they will have an open mind on it.” BSNL, India’s largest telecoms firm and fourth-largest mobile operator, has more than 300,000 employees and several unions. Reuters notes that its major unions are opposing a planned 10 percent IPO – the country’s largest ever listing – on fears the move will lead to job losses. BSNL is reportedly trying to woo employees by offering them shares at nominal value. An Economic Times report this week suggests that the decision to list BSNL could pave the way for a merger with MTNL, also government-held.

Meanwhile, Sify reports today that BSNL has placed an order of 5 million lines with Ericsson for 3G services, which is expected to be rolled out within six months. Last week it was reported that both BSNL and MTNL were each awarded a block of 5MHz spectrum in the 2.1GHz band for 3G services, before a planned auction for private operators has taken place. BSNL is also in the process of issuing tenders for a 93 million, US$6.5 billion, GSM line expansion.