BSNL to offer more value-added services

Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) is gearing up to offer more value-added services in Andhra Pradesh. It is also embarking on a major expansion of the National Internet Backbone network (NIB) as well as upgradation of its exchanges in the state during the year 2004-05.

Addressing a media conference on the occasion of 'World Telecom Day' on Saturday, Sanjay Kumar, chief general manager of BSNL, said that as part of the second phase of NIB project to be rolled out in September, BSNL would be able to render broadband services to both corporate and individual customers in Vijayawada, Visakhapatnam, East Godavari and Kadapa districts.

Higher data transfer rates and video on the internet would be some of the value-added services that would be available in these districts.

All these places would also get access to such services as virtual private networks, higher bandwidth on demand, video on demand etc.

Kumar said that BSNL was planning to link around 2,600 small exchanges with big exchanges near them. This would result in considerable improvement in the quality of services. STD services would also be made available on demand to more areas in the state.

An intelligence net equipment to track calls made across the country was also being set up in Hyderabad, he said.

To enable subscribers to know the details of landline services, a call centre will be set up in the state with a toll number 1,500.

BSNL is also planning to offer India telephone cards with a face value of Rs 100 and Rs 200 to enable calls at cheaper rates from the pilgrim centres like Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh. These cards will be valid for a period of 60 days.

To facilitate higher internet speed services, BSNL is also planning to offer ISDN services to internet subscribers. For a monthly rental of Rs 5,500, the internet users can avoid the charges for Sanchar Net and call units on telephone lines.

The direct internet access service (DIAS), which makes internet available without dialling up the specified number and waiting for the net access, would also be offered in more areas.

This service, at present available only in Hyderabad, would be extended to nine more places in the state, Kumar said.

The BSNL chief general manager said that an international roaming service was being introduced for CellOne users. This would enable them to make calls to 164 countries.

Other services in the offing for CellOne subscribers are general packet radio service (GPRS) and multi-media messaging service (MMS).

The code division multiple access-based (WLL) network services would be expanded to around 1,100 villages by December this year.