BSNL Chennai Telephones is confident that the number of users attracted to its CellOne service will be more than the outgo of subscribers when the imminent Mobile Number Portability (MNP) regime takes effect.
Addressing a press conference to announce the highlights of Deepavali offers for mobile, landline and broadband sectors, A. Subramanian, Chief General Manager, BSNL Chennai Telephones, said though the MNP was like a double-edged sword, BSNL had the network capability and credibility to gain, rather than lose, from number portability that allows users to switch to another operator without giving up their number. “There could be some outgo as some users migrate to what they think are greener pastures but the number of users coming into the CellOne fold could be much more.”
Chennai Telephones is working on augmenting its 2G and 3G network infrastructure, he said. With the virtual doubling of Base Transceiver Station (BTS) towers from the existing 1,000 sites, the operator plans to put up another 500 BTSs in the next four months, Mr. Subramanian said.
“With the completion of network expansion, many of the problems some users have been complaining about will be redressed.”
BSNL has identified about 240 locations where the signal strength is far from ideal and is working on improving coverage in these areas. Already, the network deficit in 150 locations has been bridged and tower sites for another 50 have been surveyed, the CGM said.
On the 3G front, BSNL has already put in place a network of 520 Node B towers to provide seamless connectivity. On the target for expansion of the 3G subscriber base, which currently stands at 77,000 users, the CGM said it was expected to cross one lakh by the year-end and aggregate the two-lakh mark by the start of the next fiscal.
“One of the reasons for the slow offtake for 3G services has been that we were a bit ahead of the smartphone market…but the demand is expected to go up in the next few months,” he said.
Chennai is also BSNL's fastest-growing broadband market with 44 per cent of its 1 million landline users already on DataOne services. To further improve broadband penetration, Chennai Telephones has waived installation charges (Rs. 500 plus Rs. 250) up to November 12.
The festive season will also feature offers on single band 3G data cards. The pricing of unlimited usage plans is also set to plummet to a new low of Rs.700 against a user assurance of continuance for a six-month period.
A free additional SIM for landline users with the last few digits of the mobile number synced to the residential number, full talk value for top-up coupons and unlimited data download for a week for new 3G connections are among the offers.
