Category Archives: BSNL News

Support increases for Net Neutrality

18 Saturday Apr 2015

Posted by in BSNL News, Telecom

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

The Airtel Zero Scheme for offering internet services with a charge has created a storm. The new generation has opposed it tooth and nail. More and more support are coming for Net Neutrality. The DOT is supporting the net neutrality and feels that it is essential for internet growth. The Party Congress of CPI(M) at Visakhapatnam has adopted a resolution in support of net neutrality.

The Internet can not be restricted for the benefit of some private companies who wants to maximise their profit at the expense of the people.

Another Spectrum auction on the anvil

18 Saturday Apr 2015

Posted by in BSNL News, Neo-liberal policy, Telecom

≈ Leave a comment

TRAI has now  asked the government to conduct another spectrum auction, that of 700 MHz, which is used for 4G services. The TRAI has asked the government to take the decision in this matter within 3 months.

BSNL Data Service on the Growth Path

16 Thursday Apr 2015

Posted by in BSNL - Better Service to the Nation, BSNL News

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

As per BSNL, on 12th of April 2015 BSNL has handled a total of 200TB of data on its mobile network. BSNL also witnessed a steady growth of 65% year on basis. In south zone BSNL achieved 100% growth in mobile data volume. Out of the total revenue of BSNL, data constitute only 9% compared to industry average of 14-15%.

During the last 2 years, a series of steps have been initiated in BSNL Mobile Network for facilitating and capturing the ever-increasing data volumes. Above all, each one of us has been sensitized towards the importance of providing an enabling environment for data growth, said BSNL CMD, Anupam Shrivastava.

Other operators in the country haven’t released any reports on data handled till now. But 200TB mobile data is a mile stone for BSNL and will boost its effort to expand its data service. ( A press report)

SAVE BSNL, SAVE NATION (8) – Immediate refund of Rs. 6,700 crores for the spectrum surrendered.

04 Saturday Apr 2015

Posted by in BSNL - Better Service to the Nation, BSNL News, Forum, Telecom

≈ 9 Comments

Tags

, ,

Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad, Communications Minister has stated that he will not allow BSNL to die and all support will be given for its revival. He can do one thing immediately.

It is the refund of the amount of BWA spectrum which BSNL has surrendered to DOT two years back. BSNL had paid a total of  Rs. 18,500 crore to the Government  for both 2G and BWA spectrum. Out of this BWA spectrum worth about Rs. 6,700 crores has been returned back and it was assured by the government that this amount  will be refunded. Though it is more than two years, the government is keeping the money with them without refund.

In the same way, an amount of Rs. 1,250 crore has already been allotted to BSNL for 2012-13 from USOF in lieu of ADC, but that also has not been paid for no reason at all.

BSNL is  in financial difficulty to purchase equipment urgently required for expansion and development.  The Government should immediately disburse these amounts to BSNL for the above purposes.

As stated above, Communications Minister can ensure that these amounts are paid to the BSNL immediately so that it can purchase equipment.

 

 

21-22 April strike by BSNL Workers – Conciliation by CLC on 9th April 2015

04 Saturday Apr 2015

Posted by in BSNL - Better Service to the Nation, BSNL News, BSNLCCWF - Casual and Contract workers, Forum, TU News - India

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

The Chief Labour Commissioner has fixed conciliation meeting at 03.00 PM on 9th April 2015 with BSNL Management and Forum of BSNL Unions and Associations on the Strike Notice issued by the latter for 21-22 April 2015. The meeting will be held at Shakti Bhawan, Rafi Marg, New Delhi – 110001.

The Conciliation meeting on the strike notice issued by the BSNL Casual Contract Workers Federation (BSNLCCWF) on 21-22 April 2015  will also be held at the same date and time.

Private Telecom Operators may raise tariff by about 12-15%

01 Wednesday Apr 2015

Posted by in BSNL News, Telecom

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

The Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), the association of the private telcos has stated that in view of the high bid spectrum auction, the tariffs will have to be increased by about 12% to 15%. This is against the  view of the Communications Minister that increase of about 1.30 paise per minute will be sufficient.

The private operators are utilisng the opportunity to maximise their profits. Though the Minister has stated that there is no justification for more increase, as usual, the private companies will have their way and the customers will suffer. How can a party which has got huge donations from the corporates, deny their demand?

SAVE BSNL, SAVE NATION – What are our Demands?(1) Procurement of Equipments

25 Wednesday Mar 2015

Posted by in BSNL - Better Service to the Nation, BSNL News, Forum

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

The 2.25 lakh executives and non-executives are going on Two days Strike on 21-22 April 2015 demanding that the government takes necessary measures to revive BSNL and strengthen it. The strike notice signed by the General Secretaries of the unions/associations have been served on the CMD BSNL and Secretary DOT with copy to the Hon’ble Communications Minister on 12th March 2015. Neither the DOT nor the BSNL Management has called the Forum of Unions/Associations to discuss the demands so far.

As per the call of the Forum, a massive Parliament March, participated by thousands of BSNL employees, Pensioners and casual Contract workers was organised on 25th February 2015 as a prelude to the Strike. Earlier a three days dharna was organised on 6-8 January 2015. Circle level conventions have been organised in many circles with the General Secretaries participating and preparing the workers for the strike. Call has been given for holding SSA level conventions as part of the SAVE BSNL Campaign. Serious campaign is going on in preparation for the strike. This is a “DO OR DIE” battle and every employee should be part of it.

What are the main demands raised by the Forum? Let us examine one by one.

1. Immediate Procurement of Equipments

One of the main reason for the present unenviable situation of BSNL is the lack of equipments. The mobile lines, Broadband Modem, Drop wire, telephone instruments, cables etc. are in acute shortage, which are required for the expansion and maintenance of service. Since 2006, this shortage continues,resulting blockade of advancement. While the private companies are free to purchase equipment without tender, BSNL has to go through a series of procedures before any purchase has to be made. Secondly, there is no fund with BSNL. When funds were available, the government did not allow purchase. The government should  now allow BSNL to take loans from Banks with its guarantee, otherwise banks will not give loans.

While the private companies are allowed to purchase from the Chinese companies which are comparatively cheap and efficient, BSNL is denied permission for the same citing national security. This should be cleared.

Management is purchasing towers from private companies, while the Telecom Factories of BSNL are producing the same, citing low cost for the private towers. This should be stopped. The towers manufactured in Factories should be made cost-friendly and the same should be purchased by the  BSNL, which can save a lot of money.

Many equipment could be manufactured in the Telecom Factories. (It is better to call them BSNL Factories instead of TFs.) These would be of good quality and cost-friendly and suitable for the BSNL network.

The undue and unnecessary delay being caused by the Quality Assurance in checking the equipment manufactured by the BSNL Factories should be reduced, so that equipment are made available quickly.

Appoint A Director from the Staff Side in the BSNL Board

25 Wednesday Mar 2015

Posted by in BSNL - Better Service to the Nation, BSNL News, PSU, SAVE BSNL CAMPAIGN, Telecom

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

,

BSNL is passing through a difficult period. It is in loss, its market share has gone down to below 9% and its subscribers are surrendering land lines. A herculean effort is required to ring it back to normal. The Forum, which is the umbrella organisation of all the unions and associations is on a campaign trail to get the support of the people for its revival. The 2.5 lakh workers are fully committed to the revival of BSNL.

In this context, it is only appropriate that a member of the staff side /union / association should be included in the Director Board. Workers’ Participation should not only be a slogan, but is also to be practised.

By 2018-19 BSNL will be profitable – CMD BSNL

24 Tuesday Mar 2015

Posted by in BSNL - Better Service to the Nation, BSNL News

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

, ,

anupam_shrivastava_BSNL-e1421409291228

Teleanalyses interview Shri Anupam Shrivatava, CMD BSNL on the activities and plans of BSNL

Q. BSNL is very active in government projects. What is the status of projects like NOFN, NFS (network for spectrum), LWE (left wing extremists) and North East?

BSNL is executing projects worth Rs 25,000 crore ($4 billion) in the next 2-3 years. The projects which BSNL is executing include: NFS for Defence; NOFN for BBNL; LWE for left wing extremists states and North East project for improving connectivity in North East. All these projects are under implementation except North East project where BSNL is planning to float EoI (expression of interest) by next month.

Q.What is BSNL’s mobile expansion plan for Phase 7 and Phase 8?

In Phase 7, BSNL is investing Rs 4,804 crore for creating 15 million additional mobile capacity. The capacity addition will take care for both 2G and 3G. In Phase 7, BSNL is building 27,000 towers of which 15,000 will be for 2G and 12,000 for 3G. Presently, BSNL has around 97,000 towers.

BSNL has till date completed 60 percent of Phase 7 expansion and the project is planned to be completed by June, 2015. Phase 7 will help in plugging the gap of 2G, removing blind spots in mobile network and increasing data capacity by 30-40 times.

Q. What’s the update on tower leasing and land bank?

Tower leasing proposal has gone to the ministry for its consideration. The proposal focuses on creating a separate business unit, creating a separate subsidiary company within BSNL which is fully owned by BSNL and creating a joint venture.

On the land bank front, eight proposals have been sent to the ministry for building housing complex, IT park and commercial building. For both the proposals, we are awaiting the ministry’s approval.

We are planning enhanced CDR billing which will take care of fixed line, mobile and also leased line.

We are planning converged billing so that we can offer single bill to our consumer for all types of services. With converged billing, we can offer multiple tariff packages offering different services to our enterprise and retail customers. We can come up with different schemes targeting those customers depending upon their usage pattern. We will very soon come up with converged billing RFP on a revenue sharing model.

Q. BSNL is focusing a lot on Wi-Fi hotspots. How will this help BSNL in the long run?

BSNL has lots of copper cable and optical fiber cable which we want to exploit for data services. We want to utilize Wi-Fi hotspots and integrate it with 3G services for increased reach to mobile consumers. We are focusing on data in a big way such that it is a game changer for telecom industry. In future, if we play our cards well we would be successful in data services.

BSNL is planning 2,500 Wi-Fi hotspots in the next 2-3 years. For Wi-Fi, we have tied up with Quadgen Wireless for South and West on revenue sharing basis. We will very soon float tender to provide Wi-Fi coverage for North and West regions.

What is expected revenue for BSNL in FY 2014-15? When are you planning to be profitable?

BSNL revenue should cross Rs 29,000 crore in FY 2014-15 with a growth of 4-5 percent. In FY 2014-15, we would be operational profit or EBITDA comfortable. We plan to be profitable by FY 2018-19.

BSNL expected to garner Rs. 29,000 crore in 2014 -15 – CMD BSNL

20 Friday Mar 2015

Posted by in BSNL - Better Service to the Nation, BSNL News

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

,

State run telecom firm BSNL is expected to garner revenue of Rs 29,000 crore in FY 2014-15. The company also believes that it can manage a growth rate of 4 to 5 percent by the end of this fiscal year, its CMD said.
“At a growth rate of 4 % to 5%, we hope to cross Rs 29,000 crore this year,” BSNL CMD Anupam Shrivastava told TeleAnalysis. (News Report)
If this happens, it is a turn around for Revival of BSNL.