National telecom backbone, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), is planning to invest Rs 300 crore in the North Eastern (NE) states in the coming financial year. The PSU already invested Rs 150 crore in 2014-15 and over Rs 90 crore in 2013-14 for upgrading its network in the NE region.
Regarding the challenges faced by the PSU in running telecom services in the NE states, BSNL CMD Anupam Shrivastava has said – “The private players can still wind up and move to profit-generating areas but BSNL has to distribute its resources equally. BSNL is opting for tie-ups with the Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (PGCIL) for optical fibres.”
BSNL CMD also shared his working experiences in Guwahati, Manipur and Meghalaya. “The terrain is undoubtedly very difficult. It is mostly
forested and 90-95% on the path of international borders. However, the
typical challenges also present unique solutions,” he said.
forested and 90-95% on the path of international borders. However, the
typical challenges also present unique solutions,” he said.
He also assured that, Broadband Internet connectivity will reach every house in Northeast soon as BSNL has already signed an agreement with Bangladesh Submarine Cable Company. BSNL will buy 10 Gbps (Gigabits per second) bandwidth initially, which will be increased to 40 Gbps over time.
Shrivastava took over as the Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of the telecom major earlier this year and under him, BSNL has registered a revenue rise of 13-14%, the highest in the last five years. Recently, BSNL reported an Operating Profit of Rs 672 Crore for the Financial Year 2014-15.
Regarding the call drop issue, Shrivastava said that the problem of call drops in the North East is much lesser than the rest of the country. BSNL has invested a total of Rs 225 crore in NE for building telecom infrastructure in Arunachal and Assam. The next generation of technology and equipment has been employed. The region will reap the benefits very well in time.
Private telecom operators are primarily concentrating their business in profit generating areas like cities and metros while BSNL is the only operator in India providing uninterrupted telecom services in boarder and remote areas.
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