Internet service for BSNL's WLL users

After facing a stiff competition from the private players in Jammu and Kashmir, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) is going to provide internet facility on its CDMA-based Wireless Local Loop (WLL) connections from the Navratras.

A top official in the J&K Circle of BSNL told Business Standard that the company's engineers in the state have tested and commissioned equipment for providing internet service on its WLL connections across the state.

With this service, the WLL customers need not to switch over to GSM service to avail the facility of internet on their hand-sets.

"The speed of the internet service on WLL connections will be much better than the General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), which can be availed only on GSM phones. The WLL internet service will have the connecting speed of 144 kbps as against 56 kbps of GPRS," he added.

The company currently has nearly 22,000 WLL customers in J&K. For using internet facility, the users will have to get their hand-sets configured from BSNL. The company will provide them a network interface card for enabling them to access internet using their handsets.

Like GPRS, the WLL customers will also be able to connect their hand-sets with their laptops to operate internet service on larger screens.

Responding to a question, the official said that the customers could either purchase their own CDMA sets with internet programming or buy it from the company.

The tariff of the service will be decided before the formal launch of the service in the state.

He revealed that neither GPRS nor CDMA service was being provided by any of the private players in the state. Besides WLL with internet service, video confrencing service will also be provided by the company in J&K shortly.

He, however, maintained that initially this facility will only be available in the winter capital cities of Jammu and Srinagar.