BSNL to upgrade fixed line service

Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) has decided to introduce prepaid fixed phone services for its customers. The project would be implemented for by Calcutta Telephones (Cal-Tel) and would be introduced in Kolkata soon.

Cal-Tel is also in the process of introducing triple play services through broad band in the city two months down the line.

Talking to reporters at the sideline of a function to inaugurate its first telephone exchange at New Town in Rajarhat, chief general manager, S P Chakravorty said, "Triple play would include video on demand, voice on demand, audio conferencing and gaming. We had experimented with triple play a couple of years ago but could not go ahead with it because of some technical problems. Now we are in a position to launch the service."

Explaining the pre-paid fixed phone service, Chakravorty said, "Details of the tariff structure are being worked out including the rental for the phone that would be used for making calls. We are also thinking of a concept of prepaid account where certain value would be filled in which would be depleted on the basis of the calls made. As of now the service would be for prepaid cards that can be used to make phone calls for specific phone lines. This would be different from existing India Telephone card in the sense that it would be tied up to a single phone and a caller will only have to dial a four digit number before making a call not a 16 digit number that is required for IT card."

Cal-tel has also entered into dialogues with builders for popularising its Centrex facility that allows making free phone call within a definite complex area free of cost.

"Cal-Tel is also gearing up to offer more cell-one connections and has firmed up plans of installing switches that would enable additional six lakh connections to be provided in the next number of months. The installations would be completed in the next three to four months," he informed.

The CGM also informed that Cal-Tel was gearing up to introduce 3G as its next stage for cell phone service. It is also in the process of readying itself for offering universal mobile telecom services.

"Next year we would be introducing WiFi and WiMax through wireless," he added.