Opinion | A distress call from telecom operators

 It is a market that boasts of more paying customers than the population of most countries. The transformation of Indian life that it has caused over the past decade or so, be it social or commercial, has held us spellbound.

Vodafone Idea Gets Hit With Call Drop Penalties Along With Other Telcos

Things have gotten from bad to worse for Vodafone Idea and other telecom operators. As if the dues of Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR) dues was not enough burdening for the telcos, another pressure of penalties has been slapped on these companies.

Telcos penalised Rs 3.2 crore for call drop in 12 months; maximum on Vodafone Idea

Penalty of around Rs 3.2 crore has been imposed on telecom operators for call drop between September 2018 – June 2019, according to the data shared by Minister of State for Communications Sanjay Dhotre in Parliament on Thursday.

Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad Rules Out BSNL, MTNL Disinvestment

New Delhi: The government on Thursday ruled out any plans to sell stake or disinvestment of ailing telecom PSUs -- Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) and Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL) in the Parliament while fixing a target of Rs 200 crore and Rs 300 crore for them from their asset monetisation in current fiscal.

BSNL Data Voucher With 54 Days Validity and 2GB Daily Data Costs Less Than Rs 200 Among Others

Out of all the telecom operators present in the industry right now, the state-led telecom operator, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) is the one which has not made the tariff hike on its prepaid plans. All the other telecom operators, including Vodafone Idea, Bharti Airtel, and Reliance Jio, have succumbed to the situations of the telecom industry and have now hiked their tariffs for the

Paying salaries to BSNL employees government’s priority: Sanjay Shamrao Dhotre

The government’s priority is to pay the outstanding salaries of BSNL employees and contract workers once the condition of the debt-laden firm improves, Union minister Sanjay Shamrao Dhotre informed the Rajya Sabha on Thursday.

“The situation is dire — it is a matter of survival for everyone. Vodafone (Idea) is in losses, Airtel is in losses, (state-owned) BSNL (Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd) is in losses,”

Telecom companies are seeing some desperate times as can be witnessed by the kind of statements being issued by the top most officials from the organisations. If it was Kumar Mangalam Birla, Chairman of the Aditya Birla Group saying last week that Vodafone Idea will have to shut shop if the government does not intervene, it was the turn of Sunil Mittal of the Bharti group to speak extensively on the bleak scenario the industry is confronted with.

At least 92,700 BSNL, MTNL employees opt for voluntary retirement

New Delhi: The voluntary retirement plan of BSNL and MTNL was closed on Tuesday with more than 92,700 employees who opted for it, according to senior officials of public sector telecommunications companies.

BSNL offers 20 GB per day broadband plan, launches Internet Telephony service ‘Wings’

While private telcos are pushing each other to lead Internet Telephony in India, government-owned BSNL has taken the pole position with the soft launch of its internet calling product.
This is the significant move by the oldest telecom in the country where private players like Vodafone, Airtel, and Jio have already been testing the service. The move will also give an edge to BSNL which is planning pan-India 5G rollout by 2020.

Amid Revival Plan For Ailing BSNL And MTNL, Government Rules Out Disinvestment Of Telecom PSUs

The government on Thursday (12 December) ruled out any plans to sell stake or disinvestment of ailing telecom PSUs -- Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) and Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL) in the Parliament while fixing a target of Rs 200 crore and Rs 300 crore for them from their asset monetisation in current fiscal.

BSNL Facing Staff Shortage After 90,000 Employees Took VRS; Can Mobile Services Disrupt?

The State-owned Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd’s (BSNL) Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS) got such a success that now it is likely to create a shortage of hands, as now around 13,305 executives has already opted for this scheme.

India must have at least 3 private telcos, says Sunil Mittal

NEW DELHI: Bharti Airtel chairman Sunil Mittal called on the government to ensure that the Indian telecom market continues to have three private carriers. He also urged the Centre and the judiciary to give “sympathetic consideration” to the industry’s appeal for relief after the Supreme Court’s order on adjusted gross revenue (AGR) left companies struggling.

BSNL offers 20 GB per day broadband plan, launches Internet Telephony service ‘Wings’

While private telcos are pushing each other to lead Internet Telephony in India, government-owned BSNL has taken the pole position with the soft launch of its internet calling product.
This is the significant move by the oldest telecom in the country where private players like Vodafone, Airtel, and Jio have already been testing the service. The move will also give an edge to BSNL which is planning pan-India 5G rollout by 2020.

No salary hikes to BSNL employees – Govt

The government of India today clarified that it will not be implementing any pay revision for the employees of state-owned telecom provider Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd as the company has failed to meet the profitability criteria applicable for all government enterprises.
BSNL has racked up tens of thousands of crores of accumulated losses since 2009-10 due to a failure to adapt to changing customer preferences and new technology, combined with a perceived lack of customer friendliness.

Govt to give 5G spectrum to BSNL without auction

Government of India today said it has decided to give 5G spectrum to state-owned telecom service provider Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd without the company participating in the upcoming spectrum auction.
In 2010, the government had set apart one block of 3G and 4G spectrum for BSNL, even as other telecom operators had to fight long and hard to get their share.

MTNL seeks shareholders' nod to raise funds, monetise land and holdings

State-owned MTNL on Wednesday said it will seek shareholders' nod for monetisation of land and buildings as well as for raising up to Rs 6,500 crore through non-convertible debentures (NCDs).
Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd (MTNL) said the company's extraordinary general meeting will be held on January 8, 2020, in this regard.

BSNL Subscribers Have Good Substitutes for 56 Days Validity Plans from Private Telcos

The latest news in the telecom industry is about the tariff hike which the telecom operator brought together for the subscribers. All the private telecom operators, Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel and

BSNL Has Several Plans Offering Talk Time to Be Used After Running Out of Daily Calling Limit

Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) has started limiting voice calls on a daily basis. Almost all the unlimited prepaid plans from BSNL now has a daily FUP limit of 250 minutes, post which all the calls will be charged at standard rates. Similar to private telcos, BSNL is also providing several talk time plans to the customers and they at as low as Rs 10. The company also has a talk time plan of Rs 5,500 which comes with extra TT benefit of Rs 6,000. Bharti Airtel also has a prepaid plan of Rs 5,000, whereas Jio and Vodafone Idea have a maximum talk time plan of Rs 1,000. Besides BSNL, no other telco is shipping full talk time benefit with the talk time plans.

BSNL will get 4G spectrum, Lok Sabha told

The financial health of state-owned telecom company, BSNL, compromised personal data of users targeted through Pegasus software, filling up vacancies in High Courts and steps taken to prevent rail accidents in animal corridors were all raised during Question Hour in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday.

Is Modi’s BSNL, MTNL rescue strategy real?

NEW DELHI: It was Wednesday afternoon October 23, 2019. Nearly a million individuals directly or indirectly linked to the two sick telecom companies– Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) and Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL)— were breathlessly awaiting the outcome of Prime Minister Narendra Modi-headed Union Cabinet’s meeting underway.

Inside the battle to save India’s telcos

 For years, the telecom industry helped successive governments line up their coffers. Now, things have come full circle, with the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government working on a relief package for the industry. While the exact nature of the relief package is still being worked out, reports suggest there are four options on the table: a reduction in license fees from the current level of 8% of adjusted gross revenues (AGR); a waiver of penalties and interest on past dues; a reduction in interest rates to market-linked rates; and a moratorium on dues.

Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) Market Competitive Landscape Analysis with Forecast by 2025

nternet protocol television is considered as an effective technology that offers several television services through a packet-switched network although remaining within a large number of internet protocol suites. With the tremendous rise in the online traffic, the need for internet protocol television is expected to rise substantially, thus encouraging the overall development of the internet protocol television market. Moreover, the growth in the internet video advertising is expected to accelerate the growth of the global internet protocol television market over the next few years.

Taxes, transfers and all other worries that dog BSNL and MTNL employees as they decide on VRS

• Debt-laden telecom players BSNL and MTNL rolled out their retention package for employees, expecting over 80,000 employees to opt for it.
• Over 22,800 already applied for VRS, as of November 7.
• The telco has not yet credited the salaries of October and the management is planning mass transfers after implementing VRS.

BSNL employees’ union demand pay scale revision before VRS: Report

The bailout package for Bharat Sanchar Nigam (BSNL) of Rs 70,000 crore, approved by the Cabinet, may go up as its employees’ union has demanded revision of pay scales before the Centre approves the Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS), media reports said.

BSNL To Launch 4G Services Soon, Rs. 12,000 Crore Investment In Offing: Report

Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) is planning to launch its 4G services in the next six months, reports Economic Times. According to the report, the company is looking at locations where it can deploy its 4G services first.

BSNL To Launch 4G Services Soon, Rs. 12,000 Crore Investment In Offing

BSNL 4G Services Could Come To Fore Soon, Only Deployment Remaining

BSNL’s 4G services are now hugely anticipated. This is because the state-led telecom operator recently received a revival package from the central government. Now, there are reports on the web that state that BSNL would launch full-fledged 4G telecoms services before the second half of 2020.

BSNL Set To Launch High-Speed 4G Services Within Next Six Months To Up The Game Against Private Sector Telecom Giants

The state-owned and operated Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) is set to launch high-speed 4G telecom services in six months of time, revealed the telecom giant's incumbent chairman Pravin Kumar Purwar in an interview to Economic Times.

Why BSNL employees are eagerly applying for VRS

“We are the people who work hard to restore mobile connectivity immediately after natural calamities and in the remotest of places in the country. Now we are the ones who are opting to lose out on service years because of the government’s mismanagement,” says 56-year-old Raghu*.

BSNL reviews business continuity as VRS scheme likely to cut workforce by half; in talks with DoT

Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited's (BSNL) voluntary retirement scheme (VRS) it rolled out recently is likely to cut its staff by almost half.

In the wake of this, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has directed the state-run telecom operator to ensure measures to maintain business continuity and smooth transition, especially to operate telephone exchanges in rural areas.

BSNL mulls biz continuity measures amid VRS plan rollout; talks on with DoT

New Delhi, Nov 10 (PTI) With the current VRS plan expected to cut BSNL’s staff by almost half, the DoT has instructed the corporation to put in place measures to ensure business continuity and smooth transition, particularly for manning telephone exchanges in rural areas.

With 57,000 BSNL employees opting for VRS, DoT instructs corporation to ensure business continuity measures

• The number of BSNL employees opting for VRS has swelled to 57,000, and the figures, when combined with those of state-owned MTNL, has exceeded 60,000

• In all, nearly one lakh BSNL employees are eligible for the VRS out of its total staff strength of about 1.50 lakh

DoT instructs BSNL to plan & ensure business continuity amid job cuts

With the rollout of Voluntary Retirement Scheme, BSNL staff is expected to cut by almost half and the ministry is concerned that it might affect business and operations. Department of Telecom (DoT) has hence instructed BSNL to have measures in place that ensure smooth transition. They are particularly concerned for telephone exchanges in rural areas.

BSNL launches long-term prepaid plan of Rs 997

State-owned telecom company Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) has launched a new Rs 997 prepaid plan in India for its customers with long-term validity and other benefits. This plan is available in all telecom circles, and the recharge will be available starting November 10.

ITS officers seek to exit from BSNL, MTNL; demand fair representation in BSNL board selection

NEW DELHI: The officers of the Indian Telecommunication Services (ITS) have demanded the Centre to repatriate them from the state-owned telecom companies— Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited and Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL), and sought to widen the selection procedure of BSNL board directors, following the three vacancies.

BSNL introduces ₹997 prepaid plan with 3 GB daily data and 180 days validity

Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), the state-owned telecom operator, has launched a new prepaid plan that costs ₹997. This new plan is available in all telecom circles and offers some good benefits. This long-term validity plan from BSNL will compete with Airtel’s ₹998 prepaid plan and Vodafone and Jio’s ₹999 prepaid plans.