31,704 New Broadband Connections
The Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited is augmenting its exchange capacity to provide 31,704 new broadband connections within the next few months, Principal General Manager of BSNL, A. Shajahan said on Saturday. He was talking to reporters along with Francis Jacob, Deputy General Manager (Planning). Mr. Shajahan said that under three million broadband project, Coimbatore will have a capacity addition in 92 exchanges. As on date in Coimbatore Secondary Switching Area, broadband was available on demand in 76 exchanges.The technical issue of creating user ID and password that hitherto delayed the activation of broadband lines had been resolved now, he said. In the event of a subscriber agreeing to avail a type II modem, connections could be provided instantly. Otherwise, customers should get type I modem from market for availing connections. Out of the equipped capacity of 41,000 broadband connections, Coimbatore had 28,000 connections working lines and Coimbatore accounted for a major demand for broadband in the entire Tamil Nadu circle.
Under the broadband services, BSNL has come out with three new tariff plans - home flexi at Rs 350 and two combo plans for broadband as well as voice call usage at Rs 299 and Rs 199. These plans would be useful for the low-end broadband users. BSNL considering its obligation to the rural community is providing rural broadband in 22 exchanges such as Periapodu, Ganapathipalayam, Sethumadai, Attakatti, Ponniagoundanpudur, Kadambarai, Chettiakapalayam, Jakkarpalayam, Kanjampatty, Mannur, Mettubavi, Vadakkipalayam, Eripatti, Karattupalayam, Poolavadi, Pudupalayam, Thungavi, V. Velur, Therampalayam, Irumborai, Pallipalayam and Kumittipathi with a capacity addition of 1,400. Wireless broadband on EDWAS technology had been planned for 39 rural telephone exchanges, he said.
In technically non-feasible areas for want of cable, BSNL was providing telephone connections under the Wireless in Local Loop technology wherein 21,750 more WLL connections would be provided for which 29 base transmission stations had been planned and EVDO exchanges had been planted in 19 more locations in addition to the two existing locations. In Coimbatore and Tirupur Short Distance Charging Areas (SDCAs), the BSNL was planning to provide full mobility for WLL subscribers. BSNL was also popularising a cost-effective unlimited network. This year, the BSNL planned to lay 300 km of Optical Fibre Cable for ensuring uninterrupted and quality service in mobile, WLL and broad band connectivity.
Under the ongoing Phase IV.5 scheme, it proposed to add 56 new cell sites to ease urban call traffic congestion and provide 58,000 new connections. This will be out of the 10 lakh connections proposed for the entire State. Two new towers under the Universal Service Obligation would be coming up at Anaipalli and TNG Palayam wherein all operators would be sharing the infrastructure. Across Tamil Nadu, 232 such cell sites would be coming up with focus on Dharmapuri and Cuddalore districts. On market share, Mr. Shajahan said that landlines were on the decrease, whereas BSNL was registering growth in the Wireless in Local Loop and cellular service segments.
