"We are looking at several globally-established e-commerce companies to advise us on how to start e-commerce. Once cyber laws are put in place, we would like to emerge as India's e-com flagship," s Sundresan, director (finance) of MTNL told PTI.

The global consultants would be finalised before March 15, the deadline for MTNL to be listed at New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), Sundresan said, adding that e-commerce activities would be under the Millennium Telecom, a 100 per cent subsidiary of MTNL for value-added services.

Millennium Telecom was registered under the Companies Act in Mumbai last week only and CEO would be finalised soon, he added.

Asked about additional investment to be made by the company to start e-commerce, Sundresan said all these aspects would be looked into after consultants were appointed. He, however, said that an authentication gateway would be set up for the purpose of attestation of documents and digital signatures of trading parties through e-commerce. Sundresan said that along with setting up of an authentication gateway, the existing payment gateway would also be upgraded.

"We are also talking to our bankers to recommend international consultants for preparing an attractive e-strategy," he said. Videsh Sanchar Nigam Ltd (VSNL) had earlier announced its plan to enter the e-commerce. Asked about MTNL's plan to aquire software companies, Sundresan said it was part of company's new business strategy, but nothing had been finalised. PTIRegarding MTNL's talks to Pentafour Technologies, Sundresan said the talks did not materalise but search was on for acquiring established software companies.

MTNL had earlier joined hands with Satyam and Rediff for inputs for its Internet and was looking forward for tie-ups with international news agencies including Reuters and Bloomberg for business and financial feeds, sources said.