BSNL to launch GPRS, EDGE services by February

Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd, which has over 5 lakh cellular subscribers in the state, will introduce the General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), Multi Media Messaging (MMS) and Enhanced Data for GSM Evolution (EDGE) services in the state in February.

The company has already initiated test trials in the state and these will be introduced after the network is upgraded.

Of the 5.20 lakh subscribers in the state, 3,40,100 are Excel (prepaid) subscribers and 1,80,085 are CellOne (postpaid) subscribers. While BSNL registered a huge growth in its subscriber base in the last one and a half year, the rise in its subscriber base has slowed down due to inadequate infracstructure.

"At present, we have about 400 mobile towers in the state and within the next 3-4 months, we will add another 400 towers. In fact, the number of towers of all major cities of the state will be doubled. Along with other circles, BSNL will introduce the EDGE, GPRS and MMS services in Gujarat circle next February," said Ashok Kumar Bhandari, chief general manager, BSNL, Gujarat, said here.

He added that in the current fiscal, BSNL will add an additional capacity of 14 lakh cellular connections, which will be done in two phases.

In the first phase, where 3.50 lakh additional connection capacity will be added, 118 new towns will be covered. "We will soon have a new switch for prepaid services, new facilities for high capacity SMS and will enhance out network where it already exists," he said.

In the second phase, the capacity will be upgraded by an additional 10.5 lakh connections.

Bhandari said that BSNL has decided to convert all those customers who wish to switch over from postpaid connections to prepaid connections, once the capacity is expanded.

"We have a postpaid tariff plan of as low as Rs 140 per month. We have decided that all those customers who wish to switch over to prepaid from this plan, will be shifted on a priority basis," Bhandari stated.

BSNL has replaced Lucent Technologies with Alcatel India for upgrading the existing cellular service network in Gujarat. Alcatel India has been awarded the contract and the company has already taken up the task of increasing the capacity of BSNL's cellular network in the state.

The company has invested over Rs 200 crore in the network so far and is expected to invest an equal amount in the capacity expansion.