BSNL set to slash broadband tariffs  ( August '9,2005, HBL)

BHARAT Sanchar Nigam Ltd is set to ring in a pleasant surprise by lowering broadband tariffs within a couple of days.

The Chairman and Managing Director of BSNL, Mr A.K. Sinha, on Monday said that BSNL would lower its broadband tariffs from the current Rs 500 a month to about Rs 250-300 a month and also plans to woo its dial-up Internet users to move to broadband.

"Following this move, we expect to add about 1 million broadband connections this year and about 2 million more next. About 1.8 million dial-up Internet connection users would be attracted to come over to the broadband network for enhanced browsing experience," he said.

Addressing a press conference here after handing over Sanchar Awards, Mr Sinha said that the corporation has earmarked Rs 20,000-crore towards capital expenditure this fiscal, which would significantly go into investment into expansion of the GSM network, customer service, Internet backbone and landlines that would mostly be wireless.

About Rs 1,000 crore is being deployed into customer care-related services.

Detailing the network expansion plans, Mr Sinha said "the company has sewn up a major expansion of GSM network and is being deployed zone wise. From the current 1.07-crore subscribers, we expect to add about 2 crore to the BSNL network by the end of this fiscal."

BSNL expects to increase its revenue from value-added services 10-fold, from Rs. 45 crore last fiscal to Rs. 500 crore by March 2006, Mr Sinha said.