BSNL to spend Rs 10,000-mn in TN Circle

Coimbatore: Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) is planning to spend close to Rs 1,000 crore in Tamil Nadu Circle (other than Chennai) for the addition of 23 lakh mobile connections under both 2G and 3G technologies next year.

While 19 lakh connections will be offered under 2G, the rest of the connections would come under the new 3G technology, according to Mr A. Shajahan, Principal General Manager, BSNL, Coimbatore.

Speaking to newspersons in Coimbatore, he said while no time frame has been fixed for the 3G roll out, it is expected to be done by March next year.

All over Tamil Nadu, 38 cities and towns will be covered under 3G. In Coimbatore district, Coimbatore and Tirupur would be covered under it. Even now, cell phones could provide access to Internet and email with limited speed. But in 3G, the speed is very high.

He said of the 4 lakh connections using 3G technology to be given, Coimbatore and Tirupur would have nearly 40,000 connections. The customers would have to own a 3G- enabled handset which may cost around Rs 30,000. Both technologies would co-exist.

The monthly charges under 3G compatible services would be higher but the exact details would be finalised only at the time of its roll out.

Mr Shajahan said BSNL has provided around 31,200 broadband connections in Coimbatore telecom area. In the next two months, it would be getting new equipments to augment capacity by about 31,000 broadband connections.

He said across the country, the share of BSNL in broadband connection was around 50-60 per cent.

In Tamil Nadu, Coimbatore ranked next to Chennai in broadband connectivity and in Tamil Nadu circle, Coimbatore occupied the top slot and the average revenue per user was around Rs 600 a month. The demand for broadband in rural areas was not very high now. But with the Government planning to provide some services on broadband under common service centres concept, it may pick up.

He said with a view to providing good mobile, WLL and broadband connectivity, BSNL planned to lay optical fibre for about 300 km this year of which around 80-100 km of cable laying work has been completed so far.