Daijiworld Media Network – Bangalore (NR)
 
Bangalore, Jan 29: The telecommunication scenario for Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) in the state a few months back was quite bleak with it struggling to come out with new broadband connections, to keep in pace with the rising demand. However, the situation today is totally reversed with state BSNL being counted as number one in the country having the maximum number of broadband lines viz 2.4 lac connections in the state. This is against the present capacity for broad-band connection of 3.7 lac.  

T S Kuppuswamy, BSNL chief general manager, Karnataka Telecom Circle, speaking at a press meet here on Monday January 28 informed that the pendency rates had almost been wiped and they would now focus on providing more connections in rural areas. Spelling out their short term plans, he said that in the next two months an additional 100 locations will be added to the city from the current 330 with regard to Bangalore, he added.  

According to him, BSNL is also offering Resource Tracking and Management System (RTMS), a real-time tracking system, which enables monitoring and communication with field employees and workforce having BSNL mobile phones. The facility allows corporate customers to manage and track their resources through internet.  

Giving more details he said that for RTMS to be operative, all that a vehicle needs is a BSNL mobile handset, which can then be tracked by a control centre using the internet or through SMS at any point in time. This service is currently available for all BSNL customers in the state, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh.  

Moreover it has made inroads even into the mobile TV sphere, by offering this service to pre-paid and post-paid subscribers who have GPRS-enabled mobile phones. In all around 15 channels like NDTV, Cartoon Network, CNN Mobile, TV9 and Zoom are being presently offered this service. The tariffs differ according to the packages taken, for instance Rs 10 per day for 24 hour access to a single channel to Rs 150 per month for watching all channels for 30 days.  

The highlights of the BSNL offer are as follows:  

• People Finder Service: People having mobiles can locate, monitor and communicate with their pals, create a pal list and send SMS and MMS very easily.  
• Instant Messaging Service: Sending and receiving instant messages through GPRS to subscribers through BSNL messenger.  
• Easy copier of ring tunes: Just press * to copy a caller ringtone from another BSNL customer. For this facility a free 30-day trial period is offered for all post-paid customers.  
• Landline connections: Several promotional plans are offered including waiver of security deposit and installation charges on new connections. Also waiver of 2 monthly fixed plan charges if 10 months charges is paid in advance.  
• Free insurance scheme: Insurance coverage guaranteed for land-line and post-paid customers in case of accidental death and permanent disability due to accident.