Customers of state-run telecom operator Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) can soon enjoy faster broadband.

From October 1, the company will increase pan India the speed by four-fold – to a minimum 2 mbps — from earlier minimum speed of 512 kbps at no additional cost.

Tariff war This move will not only benefit more than one-crore BSNL broadband customers, but also trigger a tariff war with private operators.

“BSNL should have frequent interface with customers and the efforts taken today by increasing the internet definition should help in digital India initiative, which is more for poor,” Ravi Shankar Prasad, Communications and IT Minister, said at the up-gradation launch.

This would also help BSNL generate more customer base, which is already on the revival path. BSNL, which has been losing customers in mobile and landline to private operators, is now expecting a revival.

Anupam Shrivastava, Chairman and Managing Director, BSNL, said around 15-lakh customers in last few months have been added in last few months compared with earlier 7-8 lakh subscribers in a month.

The company lost around 1.78 crore wireless and over 20 lakh wireline subscribers between March 2014 and March 2015, losses to company because of such reasons stood at ₹7,600 crore. It is also offering 1GB free email box to their customers from 50 MB mail box.

This is another major service from BSNL in continuation to offering free night calling from landline to all operator networks between 9 p.m. and 7 a.m. and free incoming roaming services for its mobile customers, the company said.

The company launched the broadband services over its landline across the country in 2005 with speed of 256 kbps and above over IP infrastructure in urban and rural areas.

Related Topics
comment COMMENT NOW