BSNL to offer two numbers on single sim in UP

Taking technology towards more convenient form for its customers, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) has come up with a unique concept of offering two distinct numbers via one sim card to subscribers in Uttar Pradesh.

"Under the new offer, the subscribers will get an opportunity to have two BSNL connections, both with distinct features, while keeping a single sim card in their handset," said Satish Kumar, general manager, (Mobile) while talking to Business Standard.

The idea of providing two numbers while having one sim card struck the operators when the demand for providing closed user group (CUG) services increased. BSNL has been providing these services to a large number of companies, groups and associations including government departments for some quite time now. Under these services, the users are allowed to make outgoing calls up to a certain limit. Once this limit is reached, the facility of making outgoing calls ends, thus leaving the users to recieve only incoming calls coming.

It was noticed that CUG users often had an additional number for keeping the outgoing calls intact, which meant keeping an additional cell phone. So BSNL thought of giving the benefit of two numbers to their users keeping a single handset, where one may be used as a CUG number while the other number will be free from the CUG limitations.

"It took us almost eight months to bring the idea in its present form," said Kumar. This is a first-of-its-kind initiative in the country with BSNL UP east circle being the first operator to device such a technique. The facility will later be rolled out in other parts of the country as well.

Under the new arrangement, the customers can either have both numbers as their prepaid account or both as post paid or one being prepaid and the other as post paid account.

It offers choice to its users of choosing between an array of services operational by the operator in the circle. The sim can be operated in any handset present in the market.

The East Circle is in the process of distributing about 3,000 sim cards after its official launch. "We will roll more such sims after observing the demand pattern," said Kumar.

Through the service, BSNL aims at increasing its customer base in the state. The offer, as of now, will be open for new customers only. "Currently, we are looking at its commercial importance with an aim of increasing our customer base as well. This will definitely add to the number," he said and added that the offer may later be extended to old customers as well.

The new sim card facility will be launched within a week's time in the eastern UP, priced at Rs 224 and will be available to people from the day of its launch.