BSNL offers fixed line connection for just Rs 500 in Gujarat

BSNL offered the new local 'B-fone' (fixed line) connection on payment of just Rs 500 to the people of the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad, instead of the Rs 3,000 as being charged by way of refundable deposit. This scheme would be applicable only to the twin cities and it will last only up to March 31, 2004.

BSNL will also not collect installation charges, which is Rs 500 at present, from the new subscribers who avail the connections on or before March-end.

Briefing the media, C Govardan, principal general manager of BSNL's Hyderabad telecom district, said that the scheme is available only for the Hyderabad city in the whole country. With the help of this scheme, BSNL's new connections in the twin cities is expected to touch 1.25 lakh to 1.3 lakh in the current financial year.

He said the department has already issued about 90,000 new connections in the current year.

Govardan said that based on the response from the people to the new scheme, he may consider extending it beyond March 31. Under the new scheme, BSNL would charge Rs 1,000 for the STD connection and Rs 1,500 for the ISD connection.

He denied reports that more and more subscribers were going away from the BSNL and opting for private telephone companies and mobile phone connections.

"Even after the competitors entered the market, BSNL had been providing around one lakh connections each year," he said, adding, "There is so much scope for the fixed lines segment which is only two per cent in terms of tele density in the country, before the people really switch over to mobile phones."

Govardhan disclosed that a pilot station, which enables existing underground telecom cable to carry high bandwidth, would be installed in Hyderabad by a Korean telecom company. He said only two such pilot stations are being planned to be set up in the country. The equipment is expected to come to the city in June this year, he said.