BSNL to spend Rs 400cr in Andhra

Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) has decided to spend more than Rs 400 crore in the Andhra Pradesh circle during the next fiscal to increase the cell phone connections.

"During 2007-08, we are aiming to add another 15 lakh new cellphone subscribers in the state. For this, we are creating additional infrastructure by investing more than Rs 400 crore," R K Arnold, chief general manager, BSNL, AP Telecom circle, told the media here.

Currently, BSNL is having 14 lakh cell connections in the circle.

This number was expected to increase to 18 lakh by March 2007, and BSNL was confident of adding another 15 lakh new connections in the next fiscal. BSNL would set up 800 new cell towers across the state. It would also increase the capacity of some of the existing towers, he added.

"Currently, our market share is about 36 per cent in the AP circle. This will increase to 40 per cent by the end of this fiscal," he said.

In the landline segment, BSNL is expecting six per cent growth during this fiscal. Its landline connections (including WLL connections) in the circle are about 31 lakh. The company plans to increase its WLL connections to 2.44 lakh by March 2007.