Category Archives: Telecom

Issues connected with telecom matters

Book on “Struggles by Workers to Defend and Save BSNL” released

25 Monday May 2015

Posted by in BSNL News, Forum, PSU, SAVE BSNL CAMPAIGN, Telecom

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The book ” Struggles by workers to defend and Save BSNL”, on the sustained struggle by the Joint Forum/Joint Action Committee/Forum of BSNL Unions/Associations of Non-Executives and Executives from 2004 to 2015, written by Com. V.A.N.Namboodiri, Founder Convener of JF/JAC/Forum was released today, 25th May 2015, by Com. C.Singh, President of Forum by handing over the same to Com.P.Abhimanyu, Convener Forum.

It details the continuous struggles waged under the Forum for the last 11 years, including 5 successful strikes, 5 parliament Marches, three All India Conventions, discussions with the Prime Minister, Communication Minister, Secretary DOT, CMD BSNL etc. The united strength of the BSNL Employees could stop disinvestment of BSNL. VRS in BSNL, unbundling etc. Its effort to improve the services is also mentioned. It is the fighting history of the BSNL workers for the last 11 years.

Com. V.A.N.Namboodiri was appreciated by the meeting of the Forum held today for preparing and publishing the book, which is part of history of the BSNL and its workers. The book is priced at Rs.50/- and will be dispatched on requisition.

Communications Minister warns Telecom Companies about call drops

25 Monday May 2015

Posted by in BSNL News, Telecom

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Communications Minister Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad has warned the telecom companies that they have to urgently attend to the problems like call dropping which is putting difficulty for the customers.

This warning is appropriate. The subscribers are actually being harassed by such problems as call drops, no coverage etc. These should be urgently attended to by the companies.

SAVE BSNL – Motivate the employees for better service.

24 Sunday May 2015

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

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The 2,25,000 and odd employees of BSNL under the banner of Forum are making all out efforts to improve the services to the customers. Out of these, it is mostly the low paid employees like TM, RM, Sr.TOA, TTA and casual and Contract workers who are interacting with the customers. What is the motivation they are getting from the management for better performance?

The pay of most of the RMs is  stagnated and they are not getting even normal increment. The Sr. TOA , TTA etc.who are appointed after 01-01-2007 are getting less pay than before. The agreed E1 pay scale for non-executives have not been so far. The contract workers are denied the minimum wage as per government orders.

For all employees and officers, there is no Bonus for the last 5 years. Allowances have not increased. LTC is restricted. Medical Allowance is taken away.

No discussion has yet started for the next wage revision. The DPE has not started any process for the Pay Revision Committee for the PSU executives.

The progress of the company is connected with the progress of the employees and officers. Both will have to go together. The entire employees and officers are dedicated to the improvement of the company. BSNL also have to start thinking about the rights/benefits of the workers.Both have to go together. The motivation thus initiated will go along way in strengthening BSNL.

BSNL Management and Government have  to seriously consider these issues.

 

Private telecom companies are allowed to reap undue benefits by DOT.

18 Monday May 2015

Posted by in BSNL News, General, Telecom

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Reproducing below a report from “Business Line” on the CAG report on Telecom.   

“The Telecom Ministry has sought legal opinion on a CAG report that stated undue benefits were extended to companies including Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel, RCom and Tata Teleservices on a number of issues.

According to a source: “The Ministry has sought legal opinion on the matter so as to undertake further course of action.”

Taking note of CAG’s findings, Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad has asked the ministry officials to seek legal opinion, sources said.

Raising concerns over various policy issues in the telecom sector, the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has recently flagged financial gaps to the tune of over ₹31,000 crore including towards non-imposition of fines and the undue gains to private operators.

Reliance Jio Infocomm got undue benefit of ₹3,367.29 crore after the Department of Telecom (DoT) allowed it to provide voice calling facility under the new licensing regime, the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) had said in its report.

Whereas Bharti Airtel made an undue gain of ₹499 crore because of DoT’s decision to merge Chennai telecom circle with Tamil Nadu in a hasty manner in 2005, the government auditor said.

Reliance Communications and Tata Teleservices got undue benefit to the extent of ₹882.06 crore (2009-10 to 2013-14) after the DoT granted telecom licences for dual technology in October 2007/January 2008, the CAG said.

The companies concerned had maintained that there was no wrong doing on their part

The CAG had also said the DoT allowed operators to enter into mutual commercial agreements for intra-service area roaming in 2008 resulting in adverse financial impact on revenues.

The auditor had also highlighted undue favour to CDMA operators when the DoT decided not to auction 800 MHz spectrum for enhanced voice data optimised (EVDO) services in 2010 though they were providing 3G EVDO services with the available 2G spectrum (800 MHz) without liberalisation of spectrum.”

How the telecom department was supporting the private companies is very clear from the above report. While the government is not prepared to give any assistance to the BSNL, thousands of crores of rupees are allowed to be pocketed by private companies on various counts.

Full MNP by July 2015 – You can dial distant numbers without ‘0’ or ’91’

18 Monday May 2015

Posted by in BSNL News, Telecom

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Good News! At last full MNP is going to be implemented by July 2015. Once it is implemented there is no need to dial STD ‘0’ or ’91’. By dialing the 10 digit number you will get any number in India.

The private companies have been delaying implementation of MNP stating that much funds are required for the technical alternation for full MNP. It is hoped that they will not put more pressure on the government for further delay in  implementation of full MNP.

17th May – World Telecommunications Day

17 Sunday May 2015

Posted by in Telecom

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17th May 2015 is the 150th Anniversary of the International Telecommunications union, which started with the First International Telegraph Convention held in 1865.

The growth of the Telecom since then has been phenomenon, especially since the last few decades. Telecom Sector has become one of the most important sector. It is closely connected with the daily routine of the people. Universal connectivity and growth is part of it.

 

Warning Bells for BSNL Management and Workers – Connections decreased, market share down

16 Saturday May 2015

Posted by in BSNL News, Telecom

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While the BSNL Management and workers are unitedly trying to strengthen BSNL and also to provide more connections, the statistics as on 31-03-2015 by the TRAI give a non-positive picture. BSNL has gone down on the number of connections and market share. While other operators have increased their connections and market share, the actual connections of BSNL, both in landlines and wireless have gone down. The total market share has down below 10% and in wireless it is around 8% only and in the sixth position.

It is a real warning bell. The government, BSNL Management and employees have to jointly work with maximum effort and turn the trend and bring back BSNL to better position.

The statistics as on 31-03-2015 for BSNL is given below:

Total Wireless Connections: 970 million     BSNL : 77 millions  Market Share  8%

Total connections (Landline and Wireless) : 996.1 million BSNL : 93.24 million Market Share : 9.4%

Broad band connections : 15.54 Millions BSNL: 9.8 millions Market Share : 65%

SC rejects claim of private Telcos for extension of licence

15 Friday May 2015

Posted by in Telecom

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The appeal of the private telecom companies Bharti Airtel, Vodafone, Idea Cellular, Reliance Telecom and some others for extension of their 20 years  spectrum licence for 10 years more has been rejected by the Supreme Court. The SC stated that it is the prerogative of the executive to decide, whether the licence is to be extended or not and the court will not interfere.

 

TRAI, DOT and TERM- all shut eyes against violation of rules by private companies?

11 Monday May 2015

Posted by in 2G Scam Corruption, Corruption, General, Telecom

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The report of the CAG on Telecom bring out so many facts. The private companies like Reliance, Airtel etc. are brazenly violating the rules on spectrum licence, roaming and on many other counts, resulting in thousands of crores of rupees to the government. In addition, the security concerns of the country are violated.

Despite all these being brought to the notice of the DOT and TERM, no action is taken against these private companies. 2 G scam is known to all, resulting in loss of about 1.72 lakh crore. It seems that whichever ministry comes, the private companies are capable of continuing their violation of rules to maximise their profit and escape unscathed.

Communications Minister should take strong action in these cases.

National Council Meeting on 14th May 2015

11 Monday May 2015

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

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Next meeting of the National Council of BSNL is scheduled to be held on 15th May 2015. It is more than  7 months since the last meeting had been held on 25th September 2014. This is undue and unusual delay and is untenable.

BSNL Management has to understand that the negotiating machinery is put in to discuss and settle the justified and reasonable demands of the employees. Delay in holding the meeting gives a wrong signal, which is to be avoided.

In the same way, despite many reminders from Corporate Office of BSNL, the Works Committee Meetings at SSAs, between the Management and Unions on development and expansion of services etc., have not taken place in many places. These are to be held in all SSAs, in time, especially when the workers are on a campaign to improve the services to the customers.

The efficiency and discipline are not only for the workers, they are a must for the Management also.