NEW DELHI, Apr 24 (The Indian Express) : In an attempt to revive its fortunes, the state-run Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) is offering free fixed-line calls at night. The company which were earlier in huge loses is trying to woo customers by offering different calling packages to stay afloat in the market against its competitive private counterparts.
BSNL, which offers telecom services across the country except Delhi and Mumbai, has announced an unlimited free calling scheme for its landline users that will allow them to call any landline and mobile number across service providers in India from May 1. “This unlimited free night calling shall be available from 9 pm to 7 am,” a company statement said.
The scheme, seen to help BSNL boost its landline business, covers all major landline general plans of rural and urban areas, landline special plans and all major combo (landline and broadband) plans.
“BSNL landline phone offers voice clarity. Now landline customers can make unlimited calls comfortably anywhere in India to all networks from 9 pm to 7 am without paying call charges,” the statement added. According to the plan, it will initially be applicable for six months and will be reviewed depending on the response.
“We hope to resurrect our fixed-line business and we hope that it will attract customers back to fixed-line,” Anupam Shrivastava, Chairman and Managing Director of BSNL said. “There will be some impact on revenue, but with only 10% calls made at night, it may go up to 15 per cent with the offer. However, if we are able to add more customers, then, it is worth the attempt,” he added.
With plethora of smartphones available in the market, landlines have virtually been disappeared. BSNL is hoping its new scheme will help lift fixed-line subscriptions that have fallen over the past five years to 16.93 million in 2015 (until March 31) from 27.83 million in 2010.
As per latest TRAI data, BSNL which dominates landline market was the biggest loser of fixed-line customers in February while Airtel emerged as top gainer. The company had over 1.66 crore landlines at the end of February.