BSNL to ramp up Pune operations, up user base

The Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) has big plans for expansion in Pune and adjoining areas in 2006.

"We plan to build new exchanges, lines, towers and increase our broadband user base and service efficiency," said Gopal Krishnan Agarwal, general manager.

The company plans to increase the number of exchanges in the Pune urban areas, including Chinchwad. "We are building 12 new exchanges.The work Has already started," Agarwal said.

The company is also replacing old copper paper core cables with new copper jelly filled cables and optical fibre to increase service efficiency. "The old copper paper core cables lose data in transmission," he added. "We have planned invest Rs 60-70 crore for adding new lines and towers in Pune district," he added.

BSNL will have an addition of 2,00,000 lines in the next two to three months thus growing its network to 4,50,0000 lines. 220 towers will be added to existing network of 250 towers.

The company estimates the broad band users base to grow three-fold by December.

"We have 15,000 broad band users and plan to add at least 4,000-5,000 new users every month from Pune, Pimpri-Chinchwad, Baramati, Lonavala, Narangaon and other tier III towns, taking our customer base to 50,000 by year-end."

For achieving this growth, BSNL had launched a threemonth free trial for its broad band and fixed line connection in November as a combo plan Home250.

"The response is good with 2,000 people signing up so far. Besides we are also holding road shows to create awareness and increase penetration," he added.