BSNL plans new services

Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) expects to implement state-of-art Call Detail Records (CDR)-based customer care and convergent billing system, to provide effective billing and customer care solutions by March 2009.

Speaking at an interactive session organised by the Calcutta Chamber of Commerce in Kolkata on Saturday, S K Chakravarty, chief general manager, Calcutta Telephones, said, a sum of Rs 360 crore has been earmarked for the common billing facility system.

Meanwhile, BSNL also expects to extend broadband connectivity in 25,000 villages, with an expense of Rs 2,000 crore this fiscal.

Chakravarty on Saturday also announced BSNL's tie-up with the Computer Association of Eastern India, for offering computer-cum-broadband connection at a discounted rate. The final blue print for the scheme is yet to be prepared.

Also, Calcutta Telephones will soon upgrade its helpline, 1500, which will serve as a common number for all billing information and the broadband services.

Also, Calcutta Telephones would provide broadband connection to customer within 15 days of registration by mid-August, claimed Chakravarty.

The telecom department had the ambitious target of providing 500 telephone phone connections, 40 million internet connections and 20 million broadband connections in the next few years. By 2015, it aimed to provide telephone 800 new connections, requiring an additional investment of $30 billion, said H V Patodia, president, Calcutta Chamber of Commerce.

At present, BSNL has 38,000 telephone exchanges, with about 23,500 having broadband connectivity.