BSNL to Launch 3G service by Oct
Talking to reporters, Mr. Mathew said that the soft launch of the 3G services will be done first. Mobile subscribers have been already asked to register for availing the services by calling 94875 80000 or by sending an SMS 3G to 53733. Mr. Mathew addressed the media on the plans of the BSNL along with G. Muralidharan, General Manager (Operations), K. Francis Jacob, Deputy General Manager (Planning), R. Pandian, Deputy General Manager (Telecom Revenue), S. Karthikeyan, Deputy General Manager (Finance) and S. Chinnasamy, Deputy General Manger (Administration).
For BSNL mobile subscribers who are facing indoor coverage issue, calls to their mobile phones could be diverted to a chosen landline number, free of cost. The facility is launched with effect from September 18.BSNL was keenly focusing on promoting its broadband services.As of now, broadband services are available on demand in more than 161 exchanges serving 45,000 customers. BSNL also intends to release another 25,000 new broadband connections during this year and tariff plans are available from Rs. 99.
On the mobile front, BSNL at present has 313 GSM Base Transmission Stations (BTS) and it proposes to add 242 new GSM BTS sites during the current year to have carpet coverage throughout Coimbatore and Tirupur. BSNL Coimbatore will be providing 1.5 lakh new mobile connections during this year.
On the performance front, Mr. Mathew said that the trend of landline connections being surrendered has decreased substantially since subscribers feel the necessity for a landline connection for broadband. During the current year alone, 50,000 new Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) cards have been issued and 25,000 new landline connections have been released.BSNL has plans to open new exchanges for Information Technology Park at Peelamedu and two more exchanges for new gated community residential colonies that are coming up around Coimbatore.
Mr. Mathew also announced the launch of facilities for fault booking by sending SMS to 94422-94423. The customer could type FLT space and the STD code of the area and the faulty phone number. To know the current bill status, they could type BILL space STD code of the area and then the number.Focus is also on promoting the newly introduced Gulf country Call Now cards that offers ISD at Rs. 4 and Rs. 4.25 to destinations in Middle East.
Payment of landline bills could be done through VISA debit cards and subscribers could avail 5 per cent cash back offer.Customers paying their bills online at www.bsnl.co.in or www.tamilnadu.bsnl.co.in are entitled to one per cent discount.Another mode of payment has been introduced wherein payment through Electronic Clearance Scheme (ECS) would fetch one per cent discount besides voluntary deposit scheme (advance payment) wherein the payment would fetch 7 per cent interest.
Sale of CDMA WLL EVDO cards with 2.4 mbps are being promoted and the services are now available at Race Course, Ganapathy, Ram Nagar, Peelamedu, Saravanampatty, Kovaipudur, Kurichi, Thudialur, Periyanaickenpalayam, Cheran Maanagar, Mettuppalayam, Udumalpet. The services would be soon launched at Navavur pirivu, Selvapuram, Sai Baba Colony, Somanur, Navakkarai, Arulpuram, Tirupur main, PP Pudur and Pollachi main.Mr. Mathew said that in rural areas broadband connections under Universal Service Obligation Fund with two plans Rural USOF 99 and Rural USOF 150 without security deposit, installation fee, registration charges and modem charges.
