Category Archives: Telecom

Issues connected with telecom matters

Kerala M.P.s meet Communications Minister on Kerala Struggle issues

05 Wednesday Aug 2015

Posted by in BSNLCCWF - Casual and Contract workers, BSNLEU, Telecom

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M.P.s from Kerala, S/Shri K.N.Venugopal, who is also President of CCLU Kerala, C.P.Narayanan, T.N.Seem, K.K.Ragesh and K.V.Thomas met Communications Minister  Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad on 4th August 2015 and informed the grave situation in Kerala Telecom Circle due to the anti-worker actions of the CGM Kerala and demanded immediate intervention. They told the Minister that the 7,000 and odd contract workers are on strike for the last two days and the entire work is paralyzed. Circle Secretaries of BSNLEU and SNEA are on Indefinite hunger Strike against victimisation of union leaders and workers and demonstrations are going on. The action of the CGM is creating a situation, due to which the the services in Kerala, which is the circle which one profit circle in the BSNL, is deteriorating.

Minister stated that immediate action will be taken and directed the CMD BSNL, who was also present to do so.

Despite the assurance, no talks with the unions is held and the strike and the hunger strike is continuing. Large number of workers are conducting dharna. Leaders of many central trade unions and federations are visiting the hunger strike premises and extending solidarity and support. All the news papers in Kerala have given wide publicity for the justified struggle.

Call Drops – Audit of telecom companies ordered – Communications Minister

31 Friday Jul 2015

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

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The Department of Telecom will undertake special audit to assess the coverage and quality of service of all mobile operators in the metro cities to assess the gravity of problem to call drops. This was stated in a written reply given in the Parliament by the Minister of Communications Ravi Shankar Prasad.

“The TERM cells (field unit of DoT) have been asked to take up the special audit to assess the coverage/quality of service in metro/capital cities of all mobile operators network in order to assess the gravity of problem of call drops,”  the Communications  Minister stated.

There has been several complaints of call drops, especially in the metro cities. Many MPs had also raised the issue in the Parliament.

Though the call drops of BSNL is stated to be less than others, it also will have to seriously look in to the matter and ensure for a better service, which will attract more customers.

Call Drops – More for Airtel, Vodafone, Less for BSNL, Idea – TRAI Report

24 Friday Jul 2015

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

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It is reported by TRAI that they got maximum complaint of call drops from Airtel and Vodafone subscribers and the lowest from BSNL and Idea Cellular. BSNL has to further make efforts to reduce the call drops to the minimum. Of course, more towers are necessary to ensure the same.

 

Twenty Five Years after Bhopal AIC

20 Monday Jul 2015

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

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I am thinking of writing a small book on the Telecom employees trade union movement from the historic Bhopal All India Conference in 1991 till 2015, 25 years of trade union action, struggles, successes and drawbacks. It covers both the DOT and BSNL period.

Any comrade or colleague, who can provide valuable information of developments, incidents, photos during the period may kindly send the same to me so that it will enrich the book. This may be sent to my address – VAN Namboodiri, D-7, Telegraph Place, Gole Market, New Delhi- 110001 or by email to van,namboodiri@gmail.com’  I will be much thankful for the same.

BSNL on the improvement line – Communications Minister

22 Monday Jun 2015

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Communications Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad in an interview stated that BSNL is on the comeback track. The report in the press is given below:

“Another challenge he said was BSNL. “So much public money has been invested. BSNL’s profit in 2004, when we left office, was Rs. 10,000 crore and after 10 years when we came back to power, it is incurring a loss of Rs. 8,000 crore. This was for a variety of reasons, some very unfair,” he said. One year down the line, BSNL has added 47 lakh new active customers and its revenue has gone up by 2 per cent, he said, adding that “today BSNL has the strength to offer free roaming… Also in the offing are other plans, including changing the network to the next generation in the next two-three years.”

Explaining why he has been emphasising the issue of call drops, he said that while he may be “Minister for Telecom working for growth of the sector” he also needs to protect the interests of consumers. “(Courtesy: Business Line)

Rs. 6,000 crore loan for Sugar Mills – Even sanctioned funds not paid to BSNL

11 Thursday Jun 2015

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

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It is known to every body that PSUs are not a priority to the central government. It is more worried about the private enterprises than its own companies.

Today’s press reports state that the NDA government is allotting Rs. 6,000 crore loan to Sugar Mills to clear dues to the farmers. We are not against the same, since it may benefit the farmers also in addition to the sugar barons.

But what about the amount of Rs. 1,250 crores already allotted to BSNL from USOF towards losses sustained by providing services in rural areas as per the policy of the government for the year 2012-13. Why not it is being paid, when  BSNL is in difficulty to purchase equipment due to lack of funds?

Why not refund the BWA Spectrum Charges coming to about Rs. 6,000 Crores after surrender of the spectrum to government by BSNL three years back? Even if Rs. 2,000 crore has been adjusted towards payment of licence fee as claimed by the government, why not the balance Rs. 4,000 crore paid?

The central government should immediately act and pay BSNL its due with out any further delay.

 

Struggles by Workers to Defend and Save BSNL : 2004 – 2015 – ( 7 )

10 Wednesday Jun 2015

Posted by in BSNL - Better Service to the Nation, BSNLEU, Forum, SAVE BSNL CAMPAIGN, Telecom

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JF Protests Sharing of BSNL Towers with private operators 

Meanwhile, the Communications Minister announced that the BSNL towers would be shared with the private operators for the benefit of the latter. This was strongly opposed by the Joint Forum and a press statement was issued on 17-03-2006.

Press Statement against the proposal of the government for the unbundling of copper cables of BSNL was issued on 31-05-2006 by the Joint Forum.

Meeting with the Secretary DOT on 7th June 2006

A meeting was held with Dr.J.S.Sharma, Secretary DOT, on 7th June 2006. Com.V.A.N.Namboodiri, Convener, JF, Com. Nafe Singh and Com. Swapan Chakraborty also participated. The following issues were discussed:

Navaratna Status to BSNL: The Secretary DOT assured that the Navaratna Status will be conferred to BSNL next year after the fulfillment of obligatory provisions.

Unbundling of local loop: The apprehension of the workers on the formation of a sub-committee headed by the Secretary DOT on the issue was discussed and the Joint Forum strongly opposed the same. Secretary DOT assured that the commitment given earlier continued and no unbundling will take place.

Merger of BSNL and MTNL: Secretary DOT assured that the talk of merger is only speculation of the media and there is no decision for the same.

The Joint Forum of BSNL/MTNL Unions/Associations on 24th June 2006 addressed a letter to the Communications Minister Shri Dayanidhi Maran strongly opposing the proposal of unbundling the last mile copper and seeking a meeting to discuss the same.

The Joint Forum gave a call for Lunch hour Demonstrations at Circles and SSA levels on 27th July 2006 and telegrams to be sent to Prime Minister demanding “ No Disinvestment, No unbundling of local loop of BSNL & MTNL”. It was also decided to have a massive March to Parliament on 3rd August 2006.

Meeting with the Minister of Communications on 12th July 2006.

Com. V.A.N.Namboodiri, Convener Joint Forum along with Com. Basudev Acharya, M.P. & Leader of the CPI(M) in Lok Sabha, met the Communications Minister Dayanidhi Maran on 12-07-2006 and expressed strong protest of the workers on the proposals for unbundling. The Minister, while sharing the concerns of the unions expressed that there is no need to unbundle loops of BSNL & MTNL. He said that in USA also, there is no unbundling. He commented that both the PSUs will be finished if unbundled. Coms. Mihir Dasgupta AGS BSNLEU and Animesh Mitra, CS BSNLEU, W.B.Circle also participated in the discussions. Minister assured positively and later told the press that there was no need for unbundling.

Protest against increasing of FDI from 49% to 74 % in Telecom sector – Joint Forum of BSNL/MTNL Unions decides for agitational programmes.

Despite the discussions with the Communications Minister and assurances by DOT and CMD, the government was steadily moving to implement increased FDI in telecom, unbundling of last mile copper etc. as part of its neo-liberal policies. Videsh Sanchar Nigam Limited (VSNL) was privatized and the shares of MTNL were being disinvested. The government and the TRAI were taking anti-BSNL/MTNL decisions one after another favouring the private telecom companies. Earlier, the USOF was only for the BSNL/MTNL but it was being extended to the private operators also. A committee was formed under the Chairmanship of Secretary, DOT, with 9 members out of which 4 members were from various private telecom companies and one each from PMO and Planning Commission. The main issue was to unbundle the last mile copper of the telecom PSUs to benefit the private companies.

As such, the meeting of the Joint Forum held on 5th and 10th July 2006 after detailed discussion decided to organize agitational programmes on the following demands:

  1. No Disinvestment of BSNL/MTNL
  2. No unbundling of local loop
  3. No sharing of BSNL/MTNL infrastructure with private operators
  4. No increase in FDI
  5. No reduction in revenue sharing and ADC
  6. Immediate grant of Navaratna status to BSNL
  7. Grant autonomy to BSNL & MTNL
  8. Expand mobile and broadband services
  9. Early and amicable settlement of ITS absorption issue.

The following programmes  were also finalized:

  1. Joint Demonstrations to be organized at Circle/SSA headquarters on 27th July 2006. On the day, telegrams to be sent to the Prime Minister, New Delhi as follows:

“No Disinvestment, Unbundling of Local Loop of BSNL and MTNL”

  1. March to Parliament on 3rd August 2006.
  2. Strike in September 2006, the date which will be decided later.

Accordingly notice was issued to the Secretary, DOT and CMDs of BSNL and MTNL. It was signed by V.A.N.Namboodiri (BSNLEU) & Convener JF, O.P.Gupta (NFTE), K.Vallinayagam (FNTO), V.Narayana (BSNLMS), Prahlad Rai (AIBSNLEA), G.L.Jogi (SNEA), V.Subburaman (TEPU), S.P.Sharma (BSNLWRU), T.Muthukrishnan (AISC/STTEWA), A.D.Patil (AIBCTES), V.K.Tomar (MTNLEA), Vrijesh Upadhyay  (MTNLMS) and A.K.Koushik (TEAM). A detailed letter was sent to the Sub Group on ‘Unbundling of local loop’ strongly opposing and demanding that no unbundling be decided.

Mobile Operators will have to pay for call drops

03 Wednesday Jun 2015

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

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The government is proposing to penalise the telecom companies for call drops, which have very much increased. The companies will have to provide extra time for the period of call drops.

This will compel the service providers to improve their services. BSNL also will have to improve its services to satisfy the customers.

Panel on Net Neutrality submits its report

02 Tuesday Jun 2015

Posted by in Telecom

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DoT panel for net neutrality has submitted its report to the telecom minister Ravi Shankar Prasad. The 6 member panel was formed in last January to formulate government’s policy on net neutrality.

There has been strong protest against the move of the private telecom companies to restrict services and charging the net services to maximise their profits. The TRAI has also circulated a paper on the matter.

There have been strong protests from the net users demanding that net neutrality should be maintained. Communications Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad  has stated in the Parliament that net neutrality should continue.

The details of the committee report have not been published. Unless net-neutrality is ensured, there is going to be strong protests.

Mobile Towers attacked, Franchisees close shops in Kashmir due to extremist threat

02 Tuesday Jun 2015

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Almost all the mobile franchisees and shops were closed in Kashmir, especially in Spore area, due to the threat of extremists who have warned against selling of mobiles as also functioning of the mobile towers. Mobile towers and franchisees were attacked in the recent days.

The anger against the mobile sales and towers by the extremists seems because that they are being traced and attacked by the military/police on the basis of the information through the mobile towers etc.

BSNL franchisee shops also have been closed, although they were the latest to do so.