BSNL vouched a few days ago that it will plan out an investment of 400 corers into the telecom sector in an attempt to revamp its landline services and offer many modern facilities currently available in other nations. Many would agree that it has been long overdue. The company has proposed this upgrade to finish by the end of the current financial year.
Managing Director of BSNL and chairman, R. K. Upadhyay said that they have already begun the process of converting all their exchanges into NGN or Next Generation Networks in an attempt to bring services commonly available on mobile phones such as call transfer, directory, and video calling into the fixed line sector.
He further added that at present there are over 37,000 exchanges, and only 30,000 of them are operating on C-DoT technology with the rest featuring imported technology. The conversion process from C-DoT to NGN will require little expenditure, but those operating imported technology shall require a lot more expense because of inherent technological difficulties. The tender therefore is estimated to around 400 corers.
He also said that while mobile to mobile call transfer facility is charged in India, mobile to landline transfers will become free for BSNL users provided they are inside the house. NGN should also make it easier for organizations to provide phone lines to all their employees by making a small exchange right within the premises.
At present BSNL enjoys a massive 69 percent share in the wired segment, but this figure does not show the steady decline in wired telephone users over the past fiscal year. This attempt by BSNL should however retain its old customers while encouraging newer users to take up their connection over a mobile phone. What remains to be seen is if the project completed as expected by the next year beginning, and if consumers are interested in the tariff plans proposed by BSNL.
