BSNL workers oppose Centre's telecom policies

The Bharat Sanchar Nigam Executives' Association of India (BSNEAI) has opposed the Centre's policies aimed at the private telecom players as well as the foreign direct investment (FDI) policy for the sector.

The association is also up against the Centre's decision to allow the private players to use its network as well as the non-compulsion on private players for providing services to rural customers.

A state-level conference of BSNEAI, Maharashtra circle, was held here last weekend. Issues including entry of private operators into the telecom sector and the strategies followed by BSNL to satisfy customers in the cut-throat competition, necessary steps to be taken by BSNL to face the competition, FDI and issues related to executives such as pay, perks, promotion, policies, etc, were discussed at the conference.

S K Ghuge, president, Maharashtra circle, BSNEAI, said, "The progress and future of BSNL has been affected due to wrong policies of the central government. Its (Centre's) decision to increase foreign direct investment from 49 per cent to 74 per cent is totally wrong."

He further added, "A tough competition is seen in the telecom sector due to arrival of private players. BSNL is losing its hold in the sector due to the Centre's ignorance to urgently provide the required facilities for BSNL. The government is also delaying giving advanced machineries and equipment to BSNL, which are required to make mobile and broadband services more effective."

On the contrary, the government has allowed private players to use the public sector's network at low rates. The government must charge the private operators more for using BSNL's network.

"Non-compulsion of government on private players for providing services to rural customers is also a matter of grave concern for us. The government must make it mandatory for private players to service the rural areas," he said.