Category Archives: BSNL News

Cabinet may waive the Notional Loan of Rs.7500 of BSNL

26 Wednesday Feb 2014

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The Forum of BSNL Unions/Associations has been continuously demanding the Government and DOT that the Notional Loan of Rs.7500 crore put in the records of the BSNL should be waived and that the interest and capital amount already paid by BSNL should be refunded to BSNL. Now the following report in Business Line indicates that the Cabinet may consider waiving of the balance notional loan. That is not sufficient. The entire loan should be waived and that the amount already paid by BSNL should be refunded.

The report in the Business Line is reproduced below:

The Union Cabinet is likely to a take call on waiver of notional loan on BSNL estimated to be around Rs 7,500 crore in its next meeting on February 28.

“Cabinet may take up notional loan waiver matter of BSNL on February 28. With interest and other charges, it is estimated to be around Rs 7,500 crore,” a source told PTI.

Since the time of corporatisation of BSNL in October 2000, a 15-year notional loan has been showing in the financial books of loss making state-run telecom firm.

The loan is being discharged at the rate of 14.5 per cent and penal interest of 2.75 per cent over and above normal rate interest rate.

An amount of about Rs 983 crore as principal remains outstanding against BSNL on which the interest is charged by government.

BSNL has been logging losses since 2009-10. The company’s profits had started declining after 2004-05, when it had made net gains of Rs 10,183 crore.

The public sector firm had posted a loss of about Rs 7,784 crore in financial year 2012-13.

Government has constituted Group of Ministers, headed by P Chidambaram, to revive loss making telecom firms BSNL and MTNL. The proposal of notional loan waiver is part of various recommendations made by the GoM to Cabinet for BSNL.

BSNL opposes TRAI’s recommendation of surrender of CDMA spectrum

26 Wednesday Feb 2014

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News, February 25, 2014

Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) has opposed the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India’s (TRAI) proposal to take back the spectrum it held in the 800 MHz band ahead of the
CDMA spectrum auction.
Earlier, in its pre-auction recommendation for auctioning spectrum in the 800 MHz band, the regulatory body had put forward this proposal to enable the government to carve out a contiguous block of pan-India CDMA spectrum. TRAI has recommended that BSNL be allowed to keep only one block of spectrum (1.25 MHz) in all service areas except Assam, Northeast and Jammu and Kashmir where it could retain its current CDMA spectrum holdings of 2.5 MHz
each.
At present, BSNL has 2.5 MHz of CDMA spectrum in 19 circles and 3.75 MHz of spectrum in Kerala. Citing a steady fall in BSNL’s CDMA subscriber base, TRAI has suggested that the operator may be allowed to just hold 1.25 MHz of spectrum in the 800 MHz to continue providing services to rural customers.

BSNL has claimed that TRAI’s proposal if accepted by DoT, will lead the loss-making operator to make additional investments worth Rs 3 billion by migrating the majority of its 10 million-plus
CDMA customers to lower frequencies, thereby compromising on quality of the service.

78.2% IDA – Meeting with Dept. of Expenditure Officers

26 Wednesday Feb 2014

Posted by in AIBDPA - BSNL DOT Pensioners, BSNL News

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Today, 26th February, Coms. V.A.N.Namboodiri Advisor and K.G.Jayaraj, General Secretary AIBDPA met Shri Vijay Kumar Singh Director (ADM), Department of Expenditure as also Shri Vivek Ashish Under Secretary and Shri Sanjay Kumar, Section Officer and discussed about the approval for 78.2% IDA for BSNL retirees. The Association representatives stated that undue delay has already taken place in the matter and that the pensioners are restive and requested for early approval which will benefit the pensioners. All the officers assured that the delay has taken place as they were fully engaged with the restructure process of BSNL/MTNL being proposed by the Empowered Group of Ministers. However, they assured that the process of approval for 78.2% will start by today/tomorrow and will be finalised without further delay.

Meeting of Forum will be held on 27th February

25 Tuesday Feb 2014

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An emergent meeting of the Forum of BSNL Unions/Associations is notified to be held at 16.00 hours on 27th February 2014 at BSNLMS Office. The main issue in the agenda is about the proposal of the government for merger of BSNL and MTNL. The Forum, as per the decision of the earlier meeting had already sent  letters to Prime Minister with copy to Communications Minister, Members of the Empowered Group of Ministers(EGoM) on Revival of BSNL/MTNL, Secretary DOT, CMD BSNL  etc. expressing strong protest at the move, without settling conflicts on pay scale, disinvestment of shares, pension etc.

It is understood that due to the objection of the Forum, no decision was taken in the last meeting. But the issue is still hot and may require further action on the part of the BSNL employees. These issues will be discussed in the emergent meeting on 27 February. All the affiliates of the Forum have been requested to be present without fail.

Reliance Jio will start 4G Services by September 2014

23 Sunday Feb 2014

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It is reported that Mukesh Ambani owned Reliance Jio may start 4G services by September 2014. This probably may be the first 4G service in India.

With its deep pockets, Reliance jio may try to capture the 4G Market quickly.

CDMA Spectrum on Auction – Spectrum with BSNL/MTNL to be put on auction – TRAI

22 Saturday Feb 2014

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The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) on Saturday announced reserve prices for CDMA (800 MHz band) spectrum, putting minimum cost of pan-India per MHz of radio waves at Rs.2,685 crore, almost 50 per cent jump for the last auction’s base price. Of 22 telecom circles, the top five service areas in terms of their reserve price are – Delhi Rs.450 crore per MHz, Mumbai Rs.352 crore, Maharashtra Rs.282 crore, Tamil Nadu Rs.247 crore and Gujarat Rs.212 crore.

The regulator has also recommended that the entire CDMA spectrum held by the telecom PSU MTNL in Delhi and Mumbai be put up for auction as it is underutilised, besides suggesting that spectrum held by BSNL should be taken back and put for auction, except for one block of frequency in Jammu and Kashmir, Assam and North-East service area. (Courtesy: Hindu)

Meeting with Member (Finance), DOT

20 Thursday Feb 2014

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Com.V.A.N.Namboodiri, President, BSNLEU and Advisor,AIBDPA met Smt. Annie Moraes, Member (Finance), DOT and discussed the issues of the pensioners.
1. 78.2% IDA for Pensioners: The resentment and restiveness of the pensioners due to the delay in issuing orders for 78.2% IDA was brought to the notice of the Member (Finance).She was requested to take up the matter at Secretary level so that early approval is received from the Department of Expenditure. She agreed to do the same and make efforts for early clearance from DoE.
2. Delay in payment of pension revision cases of pre-2007 and post-2007 pensioners: Advisor AIBDPA brought to the notice of the M(F), the undue delay taken place in fixation and payment of pension arrears and requested for early settlement. Member (F) stated that the matter is being monitored on weekly basis and the CCAs have been instructed for clearance of these settlements at the earliest. BSNL Management also have been directed for suitable action in the matter.
3. The views of the union in connection with the revival of BSNL, Merger proposal of BSNL and MTNL were also discussed.

Meeting with Additional Secretary, DOT

20 Thursday Feb 2014

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Com.V.A.N.Namboodiri, Convener Forum of BSNL Unions and Associations met Smt. Rita Teotia, Additional Secretary, DOT, and discussed about the issues to be settled before any merger can take place between BSNL and MTNL. Addl. Secretary gave a patient hearing to the points raised by Convener. Copy of the Memorandum submitted to the Prime Minister by the Forum and also issues raised with the CMD for Revival of BSNL were handed over to the Addl. Secretary.
Smt.Rita Teotia, Addl. Secretary, explained that certain committees/groups have been formed to discuss in detail the issues concerned with the merger and the issues raised by the Forum will also be taken in to consideration. She stated that the merger is intended for the revival of both PSUs. She also stated that full co-operation of the staff is required for better service to the customers.

Active Subscribers of BSNL is only 7.53%, far below Airtel, Vodafone, Idea and Reliance

16 Sunday Feb 2014

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

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Not only the BSNL is below on the total number of wireless connections to Airtel, Vodafone, Reliance and Idea, it is also much below all of them in active connections also.
The total wireless connections as in March 2013, the total connections and active connections are given below: % of active connections given in brackets.

Airtel 188,196071 ( 24.73%), Vodafone 152,353,654 (20.15%), Reliance 122,972,717 (14.76%), Idea 121,607,390 (16.63%) BSNL 101,206,625 (7.53%) MTNL 4,999,351 (0.32%).

The less number of active connections may be due to the government and other official connections. MTNL, which functions in Delhi and Mumbai alone has got only 0.32% connections.

However, this is a matter to be examined and the reason found out.

Gujarat, Punjab, Karnataka and Kerala in Double Digit Growth

14 Friday Feb 2014

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Gujarat, Punjab, Karnataka and Kerala had achieved double digit growth as per BSNL Management reports for the year 2013-14 till now. The Financial year ends with March 2014.

My Hearty Congratulations to the BSNL Management and workers of these circles for having achieved this growth despite fierce competition and other constraints.

I hope other circles also will take the challenge and move towards growth and profit.