The Hindu Business Line : BSNL waives connection shifting charges

IN an effort to stop the growing number of landline telephone surrenders, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) has waived the shifting charges that were being collected from subscribers who relocate to any other State and want to transfer their existing connection.

Until now a subscriber was exempted from paying these charges only if the connection is to be shifted anywhere within the same local area.

According to official sources, this has been implemented to encourage people to retain their BSNL connection instead of surrendering it once they leave a particular locality.

The subscriber, when he shifts to a new locality is faced with wide variety of choices from private operators such as Bharti, Reliance and Tata Teleservices who have been offering "instant" and "hassle-free" landline connections. There have also been many instances where the subscriber does not go in for a landline and shift to the cellular mobile connection.

It is to retain these subscribers that the company has decided to abolish any extra charges from them, the sources noted.

They pointed out that shifting of telephone connections are basically of three types. First is shifting within the same exchange area, next is from one exchange area to another exchange area and the last is the all India shift. The company has been gradually waiving off the shifting charges for each of these three types over the past couple of months. The latest initiative is expected to encourage its existing subscribers to continue the service even if they move out of the local area.

So far, the charges being collected by BSNL for external shift was Rs 600 per instrument in exchange systems of more than 500 lines capacity and Rs 150 in exchanges of less than 500 lines. A rebate of Rs 300 was being allowed, if the subscriber arranges internal fitting himself; in an exchange system of 500 lines and above.

The results of this change should be visible in the next couple of months, the sources noted.

Meanwhile, they pointed out that another initiative that the company implemented recently was allowing existing subscribers to get a second telephone connection at a fixed monthly rental of Rs 499 in exchanges with a subscriber base of one lakh and Rs 399 for those below one lakh. The call charges for this second connection have been waived if it used for Internet connection of any Internet service provider.

The plan is subject to the condition that the Internet usage charges will be payable separately by the customer to the ISP concerned. The scheme is being considered only where surplus capacity is available.

"Only existing customers of BSNL can avail themselves of the second telephone exclusively for Internet. The scheme is available to only individual customers and not for commercial users such as Internet Dhabas, Internet Cafes, etc. While no telephone instrument will be provided for this connection, no installation charges will be taken for providing this second connection," the sources noted.

While no volume or any other discounts will be applicable on the connections provided under this scheme, BSNL has made this offer even for conversion of existing second landline connections.

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