State-owned Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) will launch 4G mobile services in the city on Thursday.
Madurai will be the fourth city — after Coimbatore, Salem and Tiruchi — in Tamil Nadu circle of BSNL to get the mobile services that promises data at a higher speed of 12 mbps.
However, with BSNL not having licence for 4G operation, it will give up its 3G mobile services and provide 4G services, said its Principal General Manager, Madurai, S.E. Rajam.
“As we roll out 4G services through 139 base tower stations in Madurai Corporation limits, we will switch off our 3G services from those BTS. This will mean that all BSNL mobile customers having 3G services will not get data services in the city unless they upgrade their SIM cards to 4G SIM,” she warned.
Madurai Business Area of BSNL, covering the revenue districts of Madurai, Theni, Dindigul, Sivaganga and Ramanathapuram, has 823 BTS. However, 2G services will continue without any disruption.
Out of 68,000 customers with 3G SIMs, only 38,000 have upgraded to 4G SIMs. “We have reminded all city-based customers with 3G SIMs to exchange their SIMs free of cost. We have sent them SMS, IVRS calls and manual calls to avoid sudden disruption of data service from October 3,” Ms. Rajam said.
BSNL has another 82,000 2G customers in the city, who can also upgrade their SIMs free of cost. There will be no change in tariff for 4G services, she added.
However, BSNL mobile phone customers from outside Madurai city, who wished to use the mobile services in the city, need to pay ₹100 for getting 4G SIM.
“People from outskirts of Madurai such as Tirumangalam, who travel every day to Madurai city for work or trade need to upgrade to get the data services in Madurai city,” the PGM said.
Even on Gandhi Jayanthi, customer service centres at Tallakulam, East Masi Street, North Chithirai Street and Ellis Nagar will function, where customers can get their SIMs exchanged between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. They can also get their doubts regarding 4G services clarified over the toll-free number of 0452-255-0000.
“Customers can avoid crowd at CSCs after the 3G services are shut down in the city,” she added. They need to carry any one of valid proof of identity.
BSNL’s 3G services is providing a download speed of 3.5 mbps and the 4G services will give 10 mbps to 12 mbps speed.
“The feedback we have got from other cities, where we have launched the services, is that BSNL’s 4G service is better than that of private players,” Ms. Rajam added.
