Ratan Tata has been named the 'Telecom Man of the Year' for 2002-03 for initiating comprehensive improvements in the telecom industry in both GSM (cellular) and CDMA (WLL) telephony.

Rajiv Burman, CEO of Delhi's Tata Telecom circle, received the award on Ratan Tata's behalf as he was out of country.

The award was given by two ministers of state for communication and information technology, Ashok Pradhan and S Thirunavukkarasar.

Ratan Tata owned Tata Telecom offers basic telecom services, including WLL mobile, in Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Delhi, Gujarat, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu besides offering cellular services in nine circles.

The best telecom service provider of the year award went to state-owned Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited for its fastest rollout of cellular and rural telephony across the country.

BSNL CMD Prithipal Singh received the award.

Bharti got the best telecom equipment manufacturer award. Rakesh Bharti Mittal received the award.