BSNL revises pulse rates for PCOs

Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited's (BSNL) has revised both pulse and call tariffs for calls made from PCOs, including those that are coin collection type.

According to the new tariffs, which have been implemented in the first week of January, customers will have to pay Rs 2 for a call of 120 seconds' duration against the earlier Re 1 for a 90-second pulse. The commission rate has also been increased to 50 paise per call from the existing 40 paise.

The state-owned telecom major is also providing a few additional facilities. Customers will now be permitted to call both fixed-line wireless phones and wireless in local loop (WLL) ones (with fixed and limited mobility) within a radius of 50 km from a PCO. Besides, they will also be able to access any mobile network in their circle from a PCO.

The revision also confronts BSNL with an additional problem as coin-collection type PCOs are manufactured to the Re 1 per 90 second pulse specification. Such phone sets will therefore be more economical until they are modified as they will continue to operate at the existing Re 1 for a pulse of 90 seconds.

This disparity is likely to continue for the next three months as BSNL has allowed the coin collection type PCOs to carry out the required modifications until March 1.

Currently, there are over 400,000 such instruments in use across country, and these are of two types "" the CBT 2000 from Telecom Factory (TF) Kolkata and CBT 95 from TF Mumbai.

According to BSNL executives, for the CBT 2000, the problem can be addressed by modifying the key-pad programming for coin acceptance mode and changing the position of the coin sensor in the validator. Also, these can be carried out at the site by the circle units and will involve no extra cost.

For the CBT 95, a modification kit will have to be developed before it can be programmed to the revised rates. Officials also estimate the modifications to cost about Rs 650 per instrument.

For both the CBT 2000 and CBT 95, the manufacture of new instruments using two Re 1 coins is not estimated to involve any additional costs.

Rates revised

• According to the new tariffs, customers will have to pay Rs 2 for a 120-second call against Re 1 for a 90-second pulse
• The commission rate has also been increased to 50 paise per call from the existing 40 paise
• Customers will now be allowed to make calls to both fixed-line wireless and wireless in local loop phones (with fixed and limited mobility) within a radius of 50 km from a PCO
• They will also be able to access any mobile network in their circle from a PCO
• The revision also confronts BSNL with an additional problem as coin-collection type PCOs are manufactured to the Re 1 per 90 second pulse specification