Digital India fails to impact growth of broadband subscribers

NEW DELHI: At a time when the government is working on programmes like Digital India, there has been an increase of a meager 1.88 per cent in the number of broadband subscribers between February and March this year.
According to a Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) report, the number rose from 97.37 million at the end of February to 99.20 million.

As in previous months, the largest increase was in the mobile devices users (phones and dongles) segment from 81.48 million to 83.24 million, showing an increase of 2.17 per cent.

BSNL Extends Its Free Call Scheme

KOCHI: The BSNL on Friday informed that its unlimited free calling scheme for landline users has been extended to all ‘Combo Plans’, with effect from June 1.   The scheme that started on May 1, for calls made between  9 pm and 7 am, was not applicable for all plans.

The Ernakulam SSA has installed an IVRS facility - with toll-free number 18004251176 - for subscribers to check whether the new scheme is applicable for their landlines, or not.

Roadmap for future spectrum auctions will be disclosed in advance: Government

The government will disclose in advance the roadmap for spectrum auction in future, Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said today.

“First and foremost message which I want to convey to the industry here today is that spectrum auction in future should also be conducted in a fair, reasonable and timely manner so that the industry does not have any cause for uncertainty and ambiguity … the roadmap will be well disclosed to you in advance so you can prepare yourself,” Prasad said during a Digital Bharat event organised by Ficci.

Scrap the USO fund : But first get back the money diverted from it

Given how just R24,900 crore of the R58,600 crore collected by the Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF) between FY02 and FY14 has been disbursed to telecom operators, it is time to take a serious call on its future. Indeed, even this number is not representative since around R6,950 crore of this was reimbursement of licence fee and spectrum charges to BSNL which should not strictly have been made from the USOF. When it was started, the USOF had a noble objective, to use part of the revenues of telcos in urban areas to rollout networks and services in rural areas.

BSNL Unlimited Free Calling now allows for all Combo Broadband Users w.e.f. 01/06/2015

In view of grand success for newly launched BSNL Unlimited Free Calling offer from Landline, our telecom giant continuously allowing the landline and broadband customers to enjoy the free calling according with their technical feasibility, now it’s the time for old combo broadband users also.
On launching this new BSNL Unlimited Free Calling offer, PSU allows only individual Landline customers to avail this facility, after that majority of common BSNL Broadband customers(present BSNL Broadband Plans) will also be allowed, and recently fiber to home customers who are using broadband and voice only facility will also be allowed to avail this bonanza offer.

TRAI Report Card March 2015: BSNL pushed to third position behind Airtel & Vodafone in Broadband (Wired+ Wireless) Segment

Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has released the latest telecom subscription data as on 31st March 2015. As per this report, the number of broadband subscribers increased from 97.37 Million at the end of February 2015 to 99.20 million at the end of March 2015 with monthly growth rate of 1.88%.

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State run PSU, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) was pushed to third position in Broadband segment (Wired + Wireless) with a market share of 19.03%. Airtel holds the No.1 position with 22.19% market share and Vodafone at second position with 19.53% market share as on 31st March 2015.

Telecom subscriber base near 1 billion mark, Tele-density increases to 79%

Indian telecom subscriber base is one step away from breaching 1 billion mark with 996.49 million subscribers at the end of March 2015. Total telephone connections in the country witness a monthly growth of 0.93% in March 2015.

Govt plans fresh investment in BSNL, MTNL: Ravi Shankar Prasad

Union Minister for Communications and Information Technology (IT) Ravi Shankar Prasad has told the Rajya Sabha that the government plans to invest Rs 39,758 crore for the restoration of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) and Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL) over the next five years.
"These two companies are faced with declining revenues from loss of market share; increasing expenditure and inability to invest in expansion of communications network.

BSNL, MTNL merger likely by July

The much-awaited merger of telecom PSUs, BSNL and MTNL, is likely to take place by July next year as the two companies look at synergising operations by offering services as a single entity.
At present, BSNL offers services in the whole country, except Delhi and Mumbai. MTNL provides telecom services in these two zones.
"The deadline of June-July 2015 has not been officially commissioned to the organisation but the merger is likely to take place in the time frame," BSNL Director (consumer mobility) Anupam Shrivastava told PTI.

BSNL to make profits by '18-19 with focus on data services: Anupam Shrivastava

Anupam Shrivastava, the new chairman and managing director of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL), has his hands full within weeks of taking over. In an interview with Mansi Taneja, he talks about an investment plan of Rs 39,000 crore over the next five years to expand BSNL's core network and reviving the public sector undertaking in the next three years. Edited Excerpts:
BSNL has been making losses and performance has dipped on other fronts. What is your immediate priority?
BSNL has been making losses mainly because of depreciation of assets and administrative costs, which account for 55 per cent of our revenue. However, we are meeting operational needs through our topline. With a topline of Rs 28,000 crore and debt of Rs 4,500 crore, the situation is not that bad. The first priority is to change the direction of the company in such a way that losses are reduced year after year and there is enough compensation on depreciating assets.

There is no plan to divest stake in BSNL, Air India: Govt

Government today said it has no plan to divest its stake in ailing state-run telecom firm BSNL and national carrier Air India, which have been incurring huge losses.
"At this time, there is no proposal to disinvest BSNL and Air India," Minister of State for Finance Jayant Sinha said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha.

No works at DoT without advance payment: BSNL to staff

According to BSNL employee union representatives, unpaid bills for services rendered are said to be over Rs 300 crore

State-owned telecom firm BSNL has directed its circle heads not to carry out works at Department of Telecom offices in their regions without advance payments or prior permission from the head office here.
"It is hereby directed not to carry out any work on behalf of DoT without receipt of written sanctions from DoT and without advance payment for carrying out such work," according to an internal letter issued from BSNL corporate office last week to circle heads.

Roadmap for future auctions will be disclosed in advance: Govt

The government will disclose in advance the roadmap for spectrum auction in future, Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said today.

"First and foremost message which I want to convey to the industry here today is that spectrum auction in future should also be conducted in a fair, reasonable and timely manner so that the industry does not have any cause for uncertainty and ambiguity ... The roadmap will be well disclosed to you in advance so you can prepare yourself," Prasad said during a Digital Bharat event organised by Ficci.

BSNL provides 93.24 million Telephone connections as of March 2015

BSNL released a few figures delineating its market share and tele-density in the country for the first quarter of the year. Out of the total telephone connections of 996.1 million as of March 31^st, 2015, 93.24 million telephone connections are provided by BSNL.

Prasad assures industry that policy roadmap will be disclosed

Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Thursday assured the industry that policy roadmap will be disclosed to them in advance to help plan better. 

The Minister said the spectrum auctions held in March this year were a test for him as he worked to introduce good governance and transparency. 

While speaking at an event organised by industry body FICCI, the Minister said, “I want to convey to the industry that auction of spectrum in the future too would be conducted in a timely, fair and transparent way so that there is no cause for uncertainty and ambiguity.” 

BSNL resumes unused data carry forward at PAN India level

BSNL had stopped unused data carry forward option back in February 2015, now it seems BSNL open up their mind to provide better service in Mobile arena to be in competition with private Teleco's. As from the sources BSNL has resumes the unused data carry forward across the Country.

This facility will be available to BSNL customers in all four zones across the Country, Now as per the latest decision, accumulation of unutilized data and data carry forward facility shall be allowed to all customers of BSNL Prepaid Mobile Services across India. This customer friendly decision will directly help a large number of prepaid 3G/2G Data customers of BSNL.

The next Mr Khullar : A less assertive Trai chief won’t help govt either

Before the government appoints a new Trai chief, it would do well to ask itself if the Trai process is working. And it will have to admit, it is not. This has nothing to do with Rahul Khullar’s combative personality and his willingness to tell the government where it is going wrong. 

The issue is a more deep-seated one. The Trai chief gave a recommendation on spectrum auctions, but the government chose to ignore it; and there were several others that fell in this category, and not just with this Trai chief. In the case of net neutrality and licensing of voice-OTTs like Skype, while Khullar did not get the time to give his recommendations—the consultation process ended just shortly before his tenure will—he has made his views on the matter clear, both through the consultation paper as well as through various media interviews. 

BSNL’s unlimited free call offer not without a rider

If you think that the much-hyped offer of unlimited free calls between 9 p.m. and 7 a.m. from the Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) to landline customers is actually free, think again. 

The State-owned telecom operator has brought in a fresh rider to the offer introduced to both existing and new customers from May 1. In April, subscribers began receiving an SMS alert: “Dear Customer, make unlimited free night call from BSNL landline to any network from May 1.

BSNL Extends Unlimited Free Calling facility to FTTH Customers

As we all know, BSNL introduced Unlimited Free Calling to any network from BSNL Landline from 01.05.2015, which is applicable to normal landline and broadband customers. Now in a move, BSNL announced applicability of same unlimited calling facility to FTTH (Fiber to Home) customers also.

In view of huge customer response during promotional offer, from 16th October 2014 BSNL regularized Voice Only Facility for Fiber to the Home (FTTH) Service customers with a minimum Fixed Monthly Charges commitment of any BSNL Landline Plan having FMC of Rs. 195/- and above with the following conditions applicable for all new and existing customers.

Telephone users base increases to 996.49 mn in March: TRAI

Total telephone subscribers' base rose by around 1 per cent to 996.49 million at the end of March on the back of growth in rural users, sectoral regulator TRAI said today.

"The number of telephone subscribers in India increased from 987.30 million at the end of February 2015 to 996.49 million at the end of March 2015, thereby showing a monthly growth rate of 0.93 per cent," the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) said.

Prioritise handing over land for road development: Union Minister

Mayor Rajan Pallan and team on Monday met Union Minister for Communications and Information Technology Ravi Shankar Prasad in Delhi to talk about handing over of land that belonged to the postal department to the Thrissur Corporation for the development of Pattalam Road.

The Union minister promised the Mayor’s team to prioritise handing over the land to the civic body. The minister also promised to take steps to shift the current post office to the temporary building arranged by the city corporation within 15 days.

BSNL offers Prepaid Broadband Plans of Limited and Unlimited Download

India's Largest Landline Service Provider, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) offers  Prepaid Broadband Services for it's customers across India. The main attractions of Prepaid Broadband Service are the Mobility, No Fixed Monthly Charges, Control on Internet Charges and Sharing of DSL connections etc.

Prepaid Broadband Customers can use their Broadband account in any city in the Country (except Delhi and Mumbai) on most of the Broadband enabled connections of BSNL. A group of prepaid Broadband customers like students, professionals can share a single DSL connection also.

Government may soon clear the pending dues of MTNL and BSNL

Ministry of Communications and Information Technology may soon clear the pending dues of MTNL endured after surrendering 4G or Broadband Wireless Access (BWA), said Arvind Sawant, MP, Shiv Sena, South Mumbai.


The decision is said to have taken after a meeting among the Minister of Communications Ravi Shankar Prasad, Rahul Shewale and Sawant, on issues of liabilities of MTNL. According to reports, the meeting have occurred after a series of letters written to the Ministry by Sawant from last September, pointing various issues faced by BSNL and MTNL.

How BSNL outsourcing impacted customer experience?

Indian telecom service provider BSNL (Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd) started outsourcing their work some time ago following the footsteps of Bharti Airtel.

Some of the outsourcing work of BSNL has resulted into poor customer experience. In some places, BSNL customers need to wait for one or two weeks to repair a faulty landline connection or their broadband network.

Telecom ministry to clear MTNL dues, says Shiv Sena MP

In what can be termed as good news for the ailing MTNL, Shiv Sena MP Arvind Sawant from south Mumbai said on Saturday that the ministry of communications and information technology will soon clear MTNL's long pending dues borne out of surrendering valuable 4G or broadband wireless access (BWA).

NextGen BSNL for Shillong

Shillong, May 8: The Next Generation Network landline services of BSNL, which promises to offer multifaceted and enhanced facilities to consumers, was launched here today.

one year report card For Ravi Shankar Prasad (Ministry of Communications and Information Technology)

Prasad addressed the audience saying, "Earlier, the ministry was known for scams and scandals earlier. Recently, we had done spectrum auction worth Rs 1 lakh ten thousand crore by honest means. Digital India, making of new IT products in the country , for instance launched ‘jeeven Pramanam’ web portal for pension seekers. Earlier, people seeking pension had to come personally to show that they are alive to seek pension.

Through this web portal, pension seekers can digitally prove that they are alive. We will soon be launching a web portal for the missing children of the poor. It will contain pictures, FIR reports of the missing children. Further, 123 crore people in the country have 750 crore mobile phones in India. There are 30 crore internet connections in our country. We aspire to make it to 50 crore internet connections in the coming two years."