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BSNL to jazz up fixed-line services

BS Correspondent

The Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd is set to make fixed-line phones smarter by adding a range of services. It is in the process of joining hands with various companies to offer these services.

Facilities such as short service messages, information about stock and market rates, call answer, information on entertainment etc, will be made available soon on fixed phone lines, according to Prithipal Singh, chairman and managing director, BSNL.

He also informed that the Internet subscribers would be provided phone facility, while working on the internet through direct Internet access system (DIAS).

Fresh Internet connections will be given only after three months as the corporation is migrating from Videsh Sanchar Nigam Ltd's gateway to its own one, called SancharNet.

The corporation, which is third cellular service operator in Madhya Pradesh, will launch its mobile services in the state by August 2002 provided that there will be no inordinate delay in the procedure due to technical difficulties.

Singh said, "The process of procurement of equipment and establishment is already in progress and we are expecting the service to be launched by August."

On being asked if the corporation will trigger a price war in mobile services in MP, he said the corporation would certainly consider the price factor "but value-addition will be given prime importance".

When asked about revenue collections, Singh said the corporation is expecting Rs 240 billion revenue this year, despite there was a drop of 25-30 per cent in collection due to slash in subscriber trunk dialling or STD rates announced on January 14.

"We have been trying to increase our size to compensate the fall in revenue collection. The drop in revenue collection has already been arrested till 10-15 per cent and it would soon be in control," Singh said.

On new phone connections and rural telephony, he said, the urban telecom market is saturated and we want to increase the demand for phones in market by adding value to our services.

"We will be able to provide telephone on demand in rural areas by setting up village public telephones by installing wireless in local loop systems and satellite phones in far-flung areas."

The corporation has chalked out a Rs 140-billion investment plan for providing 6.4 million phone connections, 250,000 mobile phones 140,000 WLL phones and 300,000 Internet connections, he added.

Meanwhile, BSNL is planning to organise some mega sports event and hence is planning to recruit excellent sportsmen to promote sports activities in a big way.

The recruitment will be for officers and workers grade. The services of the recruited sportsmen will be utilised for promoting sports activities and as internal consultants for various sports programmes.

"BSNL have planned to sponsor a number of events and we are planning to sponsor some big sports events. The recruitment of sportsmen will help us a lot in our endeavour. The recruitment will be made in 23 circles of the corporation on permanent basis and the drive will continue till next three years,'' Singh said.

He refused to name the event but said, "We are mulling over it."

"The recruitment will be made against sports quota and five players will be recruited on officers as well as workers level. The excellent players will also be honoured with 'Sanchar Krida Padak'," he informed further.

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