Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited

BSNL

BSNL logo
Company type	State-owned enterprise
Industry	Telecommunication
Founded	19th century, incorporated 2000
Headquarters	New Delhi, India
Key people	Rakesh Kumar Upadhyay (CMD)
Products	Wireless Telephone Internet Television
Revenue	₹32,045 crore (US$3.8 billion) (2009-10)
Net income	₹−1,822 crore (US$−220 million) (2009–10)
Total assets	₹132,243 crore (US$16 billion) (2009–10)
Number of employees	299,840 (March 31, 2009)
Website	www.bsnl.co.in

BSNL, Headquarter, New Delhi

Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (abbreviated BSNL; भारत संचार निगम लिमिटिड) is a state-owned telecommunications company headquartered in New Delhi, India. BSNL is one of the largest Indian cellular service providers, with over 87.1 million subscribers as of April 2011, and the largest land line telephone provider in India. However, in recent years the company's revenue and market share plunged into heavy losses due to intense competition in Indian telecommunications sector.

BSNL is India's oldest and largest communication service provider (CSP). It had a customer base of 90 million as of June 2008. It has footprints throughout India except for the metropolitan cities of Mumbai and New Delhi, which are managed by Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL). As of June 30, 2010, BSNL had a customer base of 27.45 million wireline and 72.69 million wireless subscribers.

Services

BSNL provides almost every telecom service in India. Following are the main telecom services provided by BSNL:

• Universal Telecom Services : Fixed wireline services & landline in Local loop (WLL) using CDMA Technology called bfone and Tarang respectively. As of June 30, 2010, BSNL has 75% marketshare of fixed lines.

CellOne

BSNL Mobile

Excel

Prepaid Mobile

• Cellular Mobile Telephone Services: BSNL is major provider of Cellular Mobile Telephone services using GSM platform under the brand name Cellone & Excel (BSNL Mobile). As of June 30, 2010 BSNL has 13.50% share of mobile telephony in the country.

• WLL-CDMA Telephone Services: BSNL's WLL (Wireless in Local Loop)service is a service giving both fixed line telephony & Mobile telephony.

File:Dataone.PNG

BSNL Broadband

• Internet: BSNL provides internet services through dial-up connection (Sancharnet) as Prepaid, (NetOne) as Postpaid and ADSL broadband (BSNL Broadband). BSNL holds 55.76% of the market share with reported subscriber base of 9.19 million Internet subscribers with 7.79% of growth at the end of Mar-10. Top 12 Dial-up Service providers, based on the subscriber base, It Also Provides OnlineGames Via Its Games on Demand(GOD)

• Intelligent Network (IN): BSNL provides IN services offers value-added services, such as Free Phone Service (FPH), India Telephone Card (Prepaid card), Account Card Calling (ACC), Virtual Private Network (VPN), Tele-voting, Premium Rae Service (PRM), Universal Access Number (UAN) and more.

• 3G:BSNL offers the '3G' or the'3rd Generation' services which includes facilities like video calling, live TV, 3G Video portal, streaming services like online full length movies and video on demand etc.

• IPTV:BSNL also offers the 'Internet Protocol Television' facility which enables watch television through internet.

• FTTH:Fibre To The Home facility that offers a higher bandwidth for data transfer. This idea was proposed on post-December 2009.

• Helpdesk: BSNL's Helpdesk (Helpdesk) provide help desk support to their customers for their services.

• VVoIP: BSNL, along with Sai Infosystem - an Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) provider - has launched Voice and Video Over Internet Protocol (VVoIP). This will allow to make audio as well as video calls to any landline, mobile, or IP phone anywhere in the world, provided that the requisite video phone equipment is available at both ends.

Administrative units

BSNL is divided into a number of administrative units termed as telecom circles, metro districts, project circles and specialized units, as mentioned below:

Telecom Circles in India

• Andaman & Nicobar Telecom Circle
• Dobaspet
• Tamilnadu Telecom Circle
• Jharkhand Telecom Circle
• Bihar Telecom Circle
• Andhra Pradesh Telecom Circle
• Assam Telecom Circle
• Chhattisgarh Telecom Circle
• Gujarat Telecom Circle
• Haryana Telecom Circle
• Himachal Pradesh Telecom Circle
• Jammu & Kashmir Telecom Circle
• Jharkhand Telecom Circle
• Karnataka Telecom Circle
• Kerala Telecom Circle
• Madhya Pradesh Telecom Circle
• Maharashtra Telecom Circle
• North East-I Telecom Circle
• North East-II Telecom Circle
• Orissa Telecom Circle
• Punjab Telecom Circle
• Rajasthan Telecom Circle
• Uttranchal Telecom Circle
• Uttar Pradesh East Telecom Circle
• Uttar Pradesh West Telecome Circle

Metro Districts

• Kolkata
• Chennai

Project Circles

• Eastern Telecom Project Circle
• Western Telecom Project Circle
• Northern Telecom Project Circle
• Southern Telecom Project Circle
• IT Project Circle, Pune

Production Units

• Telecom Factory, Mumbai
• Telecom Factory, Jabalpur
• Telecom Factory, Richhai
• Telecom Factory, Kolkata

Present and future

BSNL then known as Department of Telecom had been a near monopoly during the socialist period of the Indian economy. During this period, BSNL was the only telecom service provider in the country MTNL was present only in Mumbai and New Delhi). During this period BSNL operated as a typical state-run organization, inefficient, slow, bureaucratic, and heavily unionised. As a result subscribers had to wait for as long as five years to get a telephone connection. The corporation tasted competition for the first time after the liberalisation of Indian economy in 1991. Faced with stiff competition from the private telecom service providers, BSNL has subsequently tried to increase efficiencies itself. DoT veterans, however, put the onus for the sorry state of affairs on the Government policies, where in all state-owned service providers were required to function as mediums for achieving egalitarian growth across all segments of the society. The corporation (then DoT), however, failed miserably to achieve this and India languished among the most poorly connected countries in the world. BSNL was born in 2000 after the corporatisation of DoT. The efficiency of the company has since improved little a bit. However, the performance level is nowhere near the private players. .The corporation remains heavily unionised and is comparatively slow in decision making and its implementation, which largely acts at the instances of unions without bothering about outcome. Management has been reactive to the schemes of private telecom players. Though it offers services at lowest tariffs, the private players continue to notch up better numbers in all areas, years after year. BSNL has been providing connections in both urban and rural areas. Pre-activated Mobile connections are available at many places across India. BSNL has also unveiled cost-effective broadband internet access plans (DataOne) targeted at homes and small businesses. At present BSNL enjoy's around 60% of market share of ISP services.

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Year of Broadband 2007

2007 has been declared as "Year of Broadband" in India and BSNL is in the process of providing 5 million Broadband connectivity by the end of 2007. BSNL has upgraded existing Dataone (Broadband) connections for a speed of up to 2 Mbit/s without any extra cost. This 2 Mbit/s broadband service is being provided by BSNL at a cost of just US$ 11.7 per month (as of 21 July 2008 and at a limit of 2.5GB monthly limit with 0200-0800 hrs as no charge period). Further, BSNL is rolling out new broadband services such as triple play.
BSNL is planning to increase its customer base to 108 million customers by 2010. With the frantic activity in the communication sector in India, the target appears achievable.
BSNL is a pioneer of rural telephony in India. BSNL has recently bagged 80% of US$ 580 m (INR 2,500 crores) Rural Telephony project of Government of India.

On the 20th of March, 2009, BSNL advertised the launch of BlackBerry services across its Telecom circles in India. The corporation has also launched 3G services in select cities across the country. Presently, BSNL and MTNL are the only players to provide 3G services, as the Government of India has completed auction of 3G services for private players. BSNL shall get 3G bandwidth at lowest bidder prices of Rs 18,500 crore, which includes Rs 10,186 crore for 3G and Rs 8313crore for BWA.[One crore is 10 million.]BSNL management has paid this money under protest seeking refund.

BSNL also launched an Entertainment Portal called BSNL Hungama which provides contents like music and music video to users for download. This functions as a fixed monthly plan.

Challenges

During the financial year 2008-2009 (from April 1, 2008 to March 31, 2009) BSNL has added 8.1 million new customers in various telephone services taking its customer base to 75.9 million. BSNL's nearest competitor Bharti Airtel is standing at a customer base of 62.3 million. However, despite impressive growth shown by BSNL in recent times, the Fixed line customer base of BSNL is declining. In order to woo back its fixed-line customers BSNL has brought down long distance calling rate under OneIndia plan, however, the success of the scheme is not known. However, BSNL faces bleak fiscal 2009-2010 as users flee

Presently there is an intense competition in Indian Telecom sector and various Telcos are rolling out attractive schemes and are providing good customer services.

Access Deficit Charges (ADC, a levy being paid by the private operators to BSNL for provide service in non-lucrative areas especially rural areas) has been slashed by 20% by TRAI, w.e.f. April 1, 2009. The reduction in ADC may hit the bottomlines of BSNL.

BSNL has started 3G services in 290 cities and acquired more than 6 Lakh customers. It has planned to roll out 3G services in 760 cities across the country in 2010-11.

Broadband services : The shift in demand from voice to data has revolutionized the very nature of the network. BSNL is poised to cash on this opportunity and has planned for extensive expansion of the Broadband services. The Broadband customer base of 3.56 Million customer in March'2009 is planned to be increased to 16.00 million by March 2014. Now bsnl is the under top five telecom service provider company in India. when compared to other telecom companies the quality of employees are not satisfactory.customer oriented,management skills are also poor,the influenece of unions in the organisation will also affect the future of bsnl

BSNL - MTNL Merger Plans

On February 23, 2011, The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) said it wanted to revive a proposal for the merger of state-owned operators BSNL and MTNL. In its draft plan, the department while showing concern over the deteriorating performance of BSNL and MTNL said that BSNL and MTNL should be merged as they have complimentary operations and can combine their strengths for synergies. DoT said the government should set up a multi-stakeholder committee to develop a restructuring plan for both firms. The committee should have members from public enterprises, the DoT, department of IT and ministry of finance. However the BSNL's staff unions are opposing this merger tooth and nail realising that MTNL is in dire state and need help of its big brother ,BSNL,to alleviate itself from getting into red balance sheet.MTNL in spite of having its operations in two big metro cities viz.New Delhi & Mumbai is realising cascading fall in revenue and profits for the past 10 successive years.The telecommunication operators should focus on enterprise business, services to government and the public sector, value-added services and technologies like 3G, the department recommends.

3G

While it did not participate in the 3G auction, BSNL paid the Indian government Rs. 10,187 crores for 3G spectrum in all 20 circles it operates in. State-owned MTNL provides 3G services in the other 2 circles - Delhi and Mumbai. Both these state-owned operators were given a head start by the government in the 3G space by allotting the required 3G spectrum, on the condition that each will have to pay an amount which will be equivalent to the highest bid in the respective service areas as and when the 3G auctions take place.

3G Coverage

BSNL has the largest 3G network in India. Additionally, BSNL 3G services usually cover not only the main town/city but also the adjoining suburbs and rural areas as well.

The following is a list of BSNL 3G enabled towns/cities. This list covers only BSNL 3G services provided through HSDPA/HSUPA and HSPA+ for GSM subscribers and not EVDO for CDMA subscribers.
Note: This list may not be complete as new towns/cities are added regularly.

Andaman and Nicobar Islands

Diglipur, Mayabunder, Port Blair, Rangat

Assam

Biswanath Chariali, Dhemaji, Dibrugarh, Duliajan, Guwahati, Mangaldai, North Lakhimpur, Tezpur, Tinsukia, Silchar, Barpeta, Bongaigaon

Bihar

Araria, Arrah, Aurangabad, Bagaha, Banka, Barauni, Barh, Begusarai, Bettiah, Bhabua, Bhagalpur, Bihar Sharif, Bikramganj, Bodh Gaya, Buxar, Chhapra, Dalmianagar, Darbhanga, Gaya, Gopalganj, Hajipur, Jamui, Jamalpur, Jehanabad, Kahalgaon, Katihar, Khagaria, Kishanganj, Lakhisarai, Madhepura, Madhubani, Mahnar Bazar, Motihari, Munger, Muzaffarpur, Narkatiaganj, Nawada, Patna, Purnia, Rajgir, Ramnagar, Saharsa, Samastipur, Sasaram, Sheikhpura, Sheohar, Sitamarhi, Siwan, Supaul

Goa

Panaji

Gujarat

Bhavnagar, Bhuj, Gandhidham, Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Surat, Rajkot,KADI, Gandhinagar, Junagadh

Jammu and Kashmir

Jammu, Srinagar

Jharkhand

Bokaro, Dhanbad, Deoghar, Godda, Gumla, Hazaribagh, Jamshedpur, Jamtara, Koderma, Khunti, Latehar, Pakur, Ramgarh, Ranchi, Simdega

Kerala

Adoor, Alappuzha, Adimaly, Aluva, Attingal, Chalakkudy, Changanassery, Chathamangalam, Chavakkad, Cherthala, Guruvayur, Ernakulam/Kochi, Idukki, Kalpetta, Kannur, Karunagappally, Kasargode, Kanhangad, Kavaratti, Kothamangalam , (Lakshadweep), Kayamkulam, Kollam, Kondotty, Kottayam, Koyilandy, Kozhikode, Kumarakom, Kunnamangalam, Mahé (Pondicherry), Malappuram, Mananthavady, Mavelikkara, Munnar, Nedumbassery, Ottapalam, Pathanamthitta, Palakkad, Payyannur, Punalur, Sabarimala, Shoranur, Sultan Bathery, Taliparamba, Thalassery, Thiruvananthapuram, Thrissur, Tirur, Vatakara

Maharashtra

Ahmednagar, Akola, Alibag, Amravati, Aurangabad, Baramati, Beed, Bhandara, Bhiwandi, Bhusawal, Buldhana, Chandrapur, Deolali, Dhule, Gadchiroli, Gondia, Hingoli, Ichalkaranji, Igatpuri, Jalgaon, Jalna, Kalyan, Karad, Karjat, Khopoli, Kolhapur, Latur, Lonavala, Mahad, Malegaon, Manmad, Nagpur, Nanded, Nandurbar, Nashik, Osmanabad, Pandharpur, Pankanergaon, Parbhani, Pen, Pune, Raigad, Ratnagiri, Sangli, Satara, Sawantvadi, Shahada, Shirpur, Shirdi, Sindhudurg, Sinnar, Solapur, Ulhasnagar, Vasai, Wardha, Washim, Yeotmal

Meghalaya

Byrnihat, Jowai, Shillong, Tura, Williamnagar

Orissa

Cuttack,Bhubaneswar,Puri,Angul,Rourkela, Kendrapara,Bhadrak,Balasore,Mayurbhanj,Balangir.

Tamil Nadu

Ariyalur, Chennai, Coimbatore, Coonoor, Cuddalore, Dharmapuri, Dindigul, Erode, Hosur, Kanyakumari, Karaikal (Pondicherry), Karaikudi, Karur, Kodaikanal, Krishnagiri, Kumbakonam, Madurai, Nagapattinam, Nagercoil, Namakkal, Ooty, Perambalur, Pudukottai, Pondicherry, Ramanathapuram, Salem, Sivakasi, Sivaganga, Thanjavur, Theni, Tiruchirappalli (Trichy), Tirunelveli, Tirupur, Tiruvannamalai, Tiruvarur, Tuticorin, Vellore, Villupuram, Virudhunagar

West Bengal

Adra, Purulia, Andal, Bardhaman, Asansol, Baharampur, Balurghat, Bandel, Bankura, Barakar, Bishnupur, Bankura, Burnpur, Bardhaman, Cooch Behar, Dalkhola, Dankuni, Darjeeling, Digha, Durgapur, West Bengal, Farrakka Barrage Township, Haldia, Howrah, Islampur, Uttar Dinajpur, Jalpaiguri, Kalyani, West Bengal, Kharagpur, Kolaghat, Kolkata, Krishnanagar, Nadia, Malda, Purulia, Raiganj, Rampurhat, Ranaghat, Raniganj, Tamluk, Siliguri, Suri, Birbhum

Madhya Pradesh

Bhopal, Gwalior, Dewas, Indore, Jabalpur, Mandideep, Mhow, Pithampur

Source: [1] BSNL Karnataka

Tripura

Agartala, Dharmanagar, Kailashahar

Recognitions

The Brand Trust Report published by Trust Research Advisory ranked BSNL in the 65th position of the list of Most Trusted brands.

Competitors

BSNL competes with 14 other mobile operators throughout India. They are Aircel, Airtel Cheers Mobile, Idea, Loop Mobile, MTNL, MTS, Ping Mobile, Reliance Communications, S Tel, Tata DoCoMo, Tata Indicom, Uninor, Videocon, Virgin Mobile and Vodafone.

Quality of Servcie

Bangalore Telecom goes by the motto http://www.bangaloretelecom.com/quality.htm and displays the same in their homepage.

Negatives

Since the large amount of their subscriber base they have often failed to provide good call centers and online resolution to common people. The waiting period is often cited to make people more frustrated than solve their queries quickly.

Long waiting periods, untrained call center team etc are the common negatives put in by the general public on BSNL.

See also

• Sancharnet
• BSNL Broadband
• CellOne

External links

• BSNL Official website
• New BSNL Corporate Official site (under development)
• BSNL 3G Services Now In 826 Cities In India