Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) is aiming to achieve a mobile customer base of one crore in the State by October this year, said Chief General Manager P.T.Mathew at a press conference here on Tuesday. Inorder to attract more customers and achieve the target, it has announced a host of voice and data offers.
“Kerala is one of the fastest growing States for the BSNL as far as data usage is concerned. The daily average usage is now at 215 terrabytes. Around 40% of the data consumption among south Indian States is from Kerala. We currently have 96 lakh mobile customers in the State. We plan to add 2 lakh customers in each of the next two months and achieve our target,” Mr. Mathew said.
Monthly mobile data usage of the Kerala circle has increased by about 300 % from April last year to June this year, from 1,490 terrabyte to 5903 terrabyte.
Some of the unlimited data offers announced for mobile subscribers include unlimited plans like STV 333 with 2 GB of data per day and data at reduced speed afterwards, STV 339 with 3 GB of data per day and unlimited local/STD BSNL calls and STV 349 with unlimited local and STD calls to any network and 2.5 GB of data in total. The broadband topup charges for 2, 5, 10 and 20 GB data have been reduced to ₹50, ₹100, ₹150 and ₹250 respectively.
In inflow and outflow of connections through mobile number portability, the BSNL witnessed a net in flow of 1,46,952 customers last year. It has also waived off installation charges for new broadband and landline connections.
Asked about the undue delay in BSNL launching its 4G services, even as private players are fast monopolising the market, Mr. Mathew said the services will be launched by year end in Kerala.
“Yes. There have been delays as we have to go through a proper tendering process. We have now given order for the equipment,” he said.
The BSNL is also in the process of tying up with cable television operators in the State to ensure last mile broadband connectivity in the rural areas. It has also tied up with the urban local bodies in Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram for their Smart City projects, in providing the technical support for the vehicle tracking system, smart waste management solutions and smart class rooms. It has planned to set up 1070 BSNL 4G Plus Wi-Fi hotspots in rural exchanges in the State within the next six months. Users will be able to download 4 GB data per month free through these hotspots.
The reverification of mobile numbers by linking to Aadhaar has also begun with 6.2 lakh customers being reverified in the circle. To a question on whether the service will be disconnected if not linked with Aadhaar, the CGM said that there is no clarity on that part as the Supreme Court did not mention it in its order.
EOM
