One of the main points raised in the Memorandum by the Forum of BSNL Unions/Associations to the Group of Ministers on Revival of BSNL & MTNL is that the government should take a basic position that BSNL is a fully government-owned Public Sector Unit (PSU) providing service all over India (except in Delhi and Mumbai where another PSU,  MTNL, provides service) including the lakhs of villages and rural areas which are loss-making and where the private companies shy to enter and requires total support from the Government. BSNL is suffering huge losses to provide and maintain service in the nook and corner of the country as part of the universal service obligation of the government.  It is the same with providing services in the border states like J&K, North-East etc. More than 70% of landlines, which cater to a large number of ordinary people, are still with BSNL. It is the incumbent operator with a tradition of more than 160 years of excellent service in telegraph/telephone which helped the nation to develop its communication, infrastructure etc. with sincerity, dedication and determination.  All these aspects the government has to recognise and accept that BSNL is the nation’s requirement and has to be supported in all ways.

Instead of giving priority and most favoured status to BSNL, unfortunately the government is helping and favouring the private telcos. Only a few examples will suffice. Private companies were given mobile licence in 1995-96, while BSNL got licence after six years  in 2002 only, which gave a lot of advantage to the private telcos. When the  3G and BWA spectrum was allotted, BSNL was compelled to shell out Rs. 18,500 crore for pan India service, while the private companies paid  about Rs.5,000 to 7,000 crores only for the same and by cartelising, they are also providing services all over the country. Private companies were allotted spectrum which can be utilised for new advanced technologies, BSNL was allotted spectrum of lesser standard. While the government says of equal field, in fact there is no equal field anywhere. This kind of discrimination against BSNL should be reversed.

The government should issue directions to all the central/state governments, PSUs and govt. assisted organisations to take connections from BSNL only as they have directed in the case of Air India. As far as BSNL is considered, on the insistence of BSNL Employees Union, many agreements like loan have been from PSU banks, group insurance scheme with LIC etc. In the same way other PSUs should take connections from BSNLEU.

These are a few of the immediate action that can be taken by the Government.