The Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) is installing eight OC-LANs and around 100 DSLAMs (equipment for broadband) in the next six months, which will ensure that the entire rural Pune is covered.
"At present, areas like Manchar, Shirur, Perangut do not have internet connectivity. We hope to reach these rural fringes of the Pune circle in the coming six months," said Mahendra, in a press conference in the city today. At present, BSNL has about 70,000 broadband connections in Pune, in the next six months they hope to add another 30-40,000, a chunk of which is expected to come through rural connections.
"We are still getting applications for around 160 connections for broadband in the city, we hope to touch one lakh connections soon," he added. To spike the rate of broadband applications again, BSNL has introduced a new scheme now: from September 1, landline and WLL customers of BSNL will be able to access free internet access for a period of two months, only telephone usage charges for the internet access would be charged, Mahendra said.
Besides broadband, the company has also seen growth in its mobile subscriber base. "In the financial year 2007-08, we added 10 lakh customers to our then 22 lakh subscribers. Our growth has been around 40 per cent. Our market share is around 20-25 per cent," he said. At present, the company has 32 lakh mobile subscribers in the state.
The company has also plans to upgrade the mobile network in the next two years to upgrade the capacity. "We have 350 mobile towers already in Pune and Pune rural circle. In the next two years, we hope to add another 350 mobile towers that will cover some additional gaps in network at present," Mahendra said. In the press conference, BSNL also announced a series of new schemes with slashed rates. To promote its landline services in the rural areas, it has introduced a new plan "Gramin 75" and has reduced rates on the "Sulab plan" which will be effective from September 1.
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Quelle/Source: expressindia, 26.08.2008
