Trai accepts BSNL take on minutes of usage data

The sheer size of the one's network can at times pose a problem. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) has accepted this explanation offered by Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) and has decided against issuing further notices to the PSU to tabulate its minutes of usage.

As per the regulator's directive, it is mandatory for all telecom operators to file their minutes of usage, which is used by the Authority to keep broad tabs by correlating it with other data such as revenues, carriage and termination charges.

Following two notices issued by the Authority to comply with its directive, BSNL in a detailed explanation has said that it would require several thousands of crores to carry out technological upgradations for computing the minutes of usage.

"A signicant majority of the 37,000 plus exchanges we have across the country cannot be linked to a single or double switch as they are not technologically equipped to connect traffic together. Trai has accepted our stand that replacements will cost several thousands of crores," said a senior BSNL executive.

"We will instead provide the regualtor with our sample studies, which survey the traffic distribution in each of the diferent traffic slabs and can predict the total call minutes with 99 per cent accurancy.

Besides, we also submit the revenue we realise, which coupled with our sample survey would give the Authority a fair indication of our call minutes," he added.

Trai sources said that BSNL's explanation was reasonable. "We have taken into accont the additional costs the customers would have to bear, if BSNL were to compute this data. We can compute their call minutes to an accuracy rate of 95 per cent, from the other data they provide us. Besides, as a state-owned company, it is unlikley to provide false data to us," said a Trai official.

Exchanges of private players which are relatively new operate at a higher technological platform connectng their entire traffic to one to two switches, which allows them to store their inforamtion centrally and also use the cell data record (CDR) based centralised subscriber billing system.

"For BSNL, only its celluar network uses the CTR based billing is compactable to complie the minutes of usage, as these exchanges were set up during the last five years.