BSNL
launches cheapest mobile service
Sandesh Prabhudesai
23 October 2002
The
Bharatiya Sanchar Nigam Limited has clarified
that no illegality of any sorts is being committed
while offering cheapest ever tariff for the countrywide
cellular service
that is being launched from 21 October onwards.
Following Lucknow and Maharashtra, Goa chief minister
Manohar Parrikar launched the cellular service
for the tourist state here today evening. It is
being made available while tourist season has
just begun this month.
Addressing a press conference on
the occasion, BSNL Goa general manager N Chenchaiah
said that the tariff plans announced for its cellular
service are approved by the Telephone Regulatory
Authority.
The existing private mobile operators
are irked with the plans announced by the BSNL
as the country's dominant player in the fixed
telephone line network is offering free incoming
calls made from the BSNL landlines, while charging
only Rs 325 as the monthly rental.
Contrary to this, the existing private
players offer the free incoming facility only
for the calls made from their respective mobile
phones or free incoming and even outgoing free
facility by charging monthly rental of not less
than Rs 1700.
In addition, the BSNL also offers
no airtime charges for any STD call made through
their long distance network. Both these facilities
are however charged for the calls made through
other landline telephone networks.
Though BSNL holds over 90 per cent
market share in the fixed line market today, Chenchaiah
says the provision has been made as private operators
in the fixed telephone market are slowly entering
the telecommunications arena.
The cellular market in Goa, along
with Maharashtra (except Mumbai) was operational
through the services provided by the Idea Cellular
and the BPL. Following the BSNL, Bharati Telecommunication's
Airtel is also now entering as the fourth player.
But rather than lowering their tariff
immediately to compete with the BSNL, all the
private operators have decided to adopt wait and
watch policy. They are also planning to approach
the TRAI and later, if required, the Telecom Dispute
Settlement Appellate Tribunal against the BSNL's
tariff plans.
To counter the hope of the private
operators that the BSNL will provide 'bad' customer
service, the Goa Telecom here has already hired
a privately operated call service centre, besides
deputing young staff at the customer service centres
at all the places.
"We will provide the best possible
customer service, which is equally competent like
the private cellular operators", claims Ravi
Bhargav, the deputy general manager managing the
cellular service in the tourist state.
Unlike other private operators in
the state, the BSNL has also announced that it
will cover 90 per cent of the state, leaving only
the remote forest areas in the hilly region. Besides
major cities, coastal villages and the national
and state highways, the BSNL otherwise plans to
cover even other rural parts by November end.
