Page 6 - TELEWAVE JUNE-2016

become positive. BSNL registered the highest growth rate among all operators in providing new wireless connections for consecutive months during February and March 2016. There is 40% increase in Mobile data, crossed the figure of 300 TB mobile data usage in single day. BSNL has upgraded 1 million landline ports with NGN. Installed more than 2500 Wi-Fi Hot sports at 1200 locations across India. This figure is 10 time more than what was expected. BSNL has exceeded Hon’ble PMs target on skill India initiative under Skill India Training Programme. BSNL has become active on social media and started resolving customer grievances received on Facebook/Twitter. This AIC may suggest methods for making more popular to these schemes and to reduce the operational cost, and stoppage of unwanted expenditures. In addition to this National Mobile Number Portability has been implemented, we need to improve our quality of service to not only to retain our customers but to attract new subscribers. 5. We are confident that under the leadership of Shri Anupam Srivastava, CMD, BSNL, we will be achieving the targets set by the Govt. Over the past 15 years, assets of BSNL have grown almost more than double with an assets base of about 56,393 crores at the time of its formation, now the asset base has become more than 1,71,935 crores. BSNL’s present customer base, which is about 102.49 million including Wireline Phones, Mobile & WLL (F/M) subscribers also. It has about 37.52 million line basic telephone capacity, 8.12 million WLL capacity, 92.00 Million GSM Capacity. In pursuit of our mission for better life for rural communities, backbone infrastructure is being created to provide broadband connectivity to Village Panchayats, Common Service Centers, Schools, Colleges and Universities. BSNL have provided 34868 Fixed Line Exchanges, 5.77 Lakh VPTs, 48052 Rural GSM, 11349 Rural CDMA Towers and 11.20 Million Broadband connections in the country. Special focus is being given to broadband connectivity to Common Service Centers (CSCs), Panchayats, Colleges and Universities. Hence, the role of BSNL in the Telecom Sector of India is very important. But now in the area of landline telephones, lots of disconnections are taking place and our market share declined which is another matter of serious concern to all of us. We reassure our best co-operation and support to Hon’ble CMD in achieving the targets set by the Government to make BSNL number one telecom company. 6. AIBSNLEA is holding its 5th All India Conference here at Mysuru after the 4th All India Conference held at Nashik (Maharashtra) in the month of November, 2013 when big changes in Telecom Sector are in the offing. In the rapidly changing scenario in telecom, the regulatory regime and competition in telecom are a fait accompli. We are not afraid of competition. With all the constraints around, our colleagues in BSNL in all major cities and other places are facing competitions with exemplary courage. In a bid to fall in line with the international standards, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has proposed certain standards to be ensured for quality of service along with provision of imposing penalties, if the prescribed quality of service is not maintained, technological innovation, the rise of the customer-driven markets and regulatory actions are dictating new management styles. Now, there is pressure on us not only to increase DELs i.e. number of telephone connections but also to retain the customer base, especially the creamy layer by rendering quality service& good customer care. 7. At the time of formation of BSNL, the then Hon’ble MoC Shri Ram Vilas Paswan assured that BSNL would be granted Maharatna status but even the Navaratna status to BSNL has not been conferred after completion of about 16 years of its formation. BSNL was meeting all the parameters/guide-lines set by the Department of Public Enterprises at that time. Now, though BSNL has become loss making due to various reasons beyond its control, the Govt. must consider granting it Navratana status to help it in faster decision making & recovery. BSNL being a Mini Ratna PSU does not have the autonomy / authority to procure the needed equipment on its own. Delay in finalization of Tenders and getting necessary approvals for procurement of equipment from the controlling Ministry are a major bottleneck in growth of BSNL to forge ahead in a competitive market. 8. The Govt. based on TRAI recommendations, has completely phased out the Access Deficit Charges (ADC) by 30th Sept 2008. It was assured that BSNL would be suitably compensated in the form of ADC for meeting the obligations in respect of rural telephony or other un-economic services but it has been withdrawn in 2008 and only Rs.6000 Crores in lieu of different activities as subsidy has been paid to BSNL in F.Y. 2008-09, 2009-10, 2010-11 and this was also withdrawn in July, 2011. BSNL is having 26160 digital telephone exchanges in Rural areas. BSNL the major service provider of universal services in rural, remote, in-accessible and hilly areas, provided reliable service connectivity across the country including ice-lands, should be fully compensated for the losses in providing these services from the USO fund. TELEWAVE 6 JUNE-2016