BSNL has launched Special Bharat Fiber & Air Fiber plans exclusive to PDOs in Rural Areas. New plans are ‘PDO Basic 499’ at 50Mbps speed & ‘PDO Premium 999’ at 100Mbps speed.
HIGHLIGHTS
- PDO plans are launched by BSNL to extend bandwidth to Public WiFi Hotspots in Rural Areas.
- BSNL PDO plans offer internet bandwidth to Public WiFi Hotspot as well as PDO usage without any additional charges.
- BSNL’s PDO plans in Bharat Fiber & Bharat Air Fiber are available all over India except Andaman & Nicobar circle.
BSNL is taking all out efforts to increase revenue from services. In order to increase it’s revenue from WiFi business, the state run PSU has published an Open WiFi Policy where investors are invited to setup Public WiFi Hotspots for Retail / Enterprise Customers of BSNL on revenue share basis. As we reported earlier, BSNL’s existing FTTH Franchisee (LCO/TIP/MSO) or Air Fiber Franchisee or Cluster Franchisee can become a Public WiFi Provider (PWP). To provide lastmile connectivity to Public WiFi Hotspots, two new FTTH / Air Fiber plans with True Unlimited Data (without FUP limit) have been launched by BSNL.
Last Mile Connectivity to Access Point via Fiber or Air Fiber
BSNL has already devised three different business models for it’s Open WiFi Policy viz –Model – I, Model – II and Model – III. Out of the three models, BSNL is providing all necessary hardware as well as software support to PWPs in setting up and integration of Public WiFi Hotspots in PWP Business Model – I. BSNL is mainly targetting retail WiFi business through PWP Model – I. In this model, the bandwidth connectivity to WiFi hotspot has to be extended by BSNL via Bharat Fiber (FTTH) or Bharat Air Fiber. For this purpose, the PSU has launched two new dedicated unlimted plans – PDO Basic 499 & PDO Premium 999 – exclusive to PDOs which areavailable across all the telecom circles except Andaman & nicobar circle. PDO Basic plan offers 50Mbps download speed at just Rs 499/- whereas PDO Premium plan offers 100Mbps download speed at just Rs 999/-.
Public Data Office (PDO), is the acronym used for Retail Hotspot locations such as retail shops may be tea / coffee / groceries where good number of foot-falls are involved. PDOs partners shall work in conjunction with PWP as hardware and software enablement, sales / marketing of services, is primary responsibility of PWP only. BSNL will have revenue share arrangements with PWPs only. PWP shall in turn share revenue with PDO partners through their direct arrangements.
Under Model – I, BSNL will give maximum revenue share of 30% to PWPs for their Retail WiFi Business.
BSNL's Special Bharat Fiber (FTTH) & Air Fiber Plans for PDOs (Available across all the telecom circles except Andaman and Nicobar Circle) | ||
Particulars | PDO Basic | PDO Premium |
Media | Fiber or Air Fiber | Fiber or Air Fiber |
Bandwidth for Wifi Customers (with best effort Download Speed) subject to Technical Feasibility | Upto 50 Mbps | Upto 100 Mbps |
Applicability | For PDO (Public Data Office) of rural areas in all circles (except A&N circles) | For PDO (Public Data Office) of rural areas in all circles (except A&N circles) |
Monthly charges in Rs | 499/- | 999/- |
Half Yearly Payment Option (Rs) | NA | NA |
Annual Yearly Payment Option (Rs) | 5988/- | 11988/- |
Two Years Payment Option (Rs) | NA | NA |
Three Years Payment Option (Rs) | NA | NA |
Download / Upload limit (MB/GB) per month | Unlimited | Unlimited |
Additional Usage Charges/ MB beyond free download/upload limit (Rs.) | NA | NA |
Free E-mail IDs/Space (Per E-mail ID) | 1 / 1 GB | 1 / 1 GB |
Static IP Address (On Request) | NA | NA |
Security Deposit | Rs 500 | One Month FMC (Rs 999/-) |
Minimum Hire Period | One Month | One Month |
Additional Complimentary Bandwidth for PDO usage (Download Speed) | Up to 20 Mbps till 500 GB, up to 2 Mbps beyond | Up to 20 Mbps till 1000 GB, up to 2 Mbps beyond |
Telephone Fixed Monthly Charges in Rs. | NIL | NIL |
FREE Calls | 24 Hrs. unlimited free calling (local+STD) on any network in India | 24 Hrs. unlimited free calling (local+STD) on any network in India |
ISD Charges on MCU basis | As per existing ISD tariff | As per existing ISD tariff |
Note: Main Bandwidth to serve WiFi Hotspot and complimentary bandwidth for PDO usages, shall be provided through separate VPN (like VPN-1 and VPN-2) (Typical connectivity Diagram shown in the picture below). All other terms and conditions with respect to PDO services, shall remain same as per the instructions of BSNL Open WiFi Policy. It means, BSNL will be offering True Unlimited Data in both these plans without any data usage limitations for WiFi Hotspots. BSNL will also provide internet connectivity to Public Data Office (PDO) without any additional charges.
BSNL Corporate Office has instructed it’s field units / telecom circles to ensure compliance with all regulatory requirements including online reporting to TRAI and also update the circle website. Further, telecom circles shall ensure to comply with the TRAI guideline with respect to number of plans. The above instructions shall be implemented with immediate effect in RURAL area of all the circles (except A&N Circle).
How Can I Enrole as Public WiFi Partner of BSNL ?
If you are presently working as a BSNL Franchisee (FTTH / Air Fiber / Cluster), you can submit your Expression of Interest to get emapaneled as BSNL’s Public WiFi Partner (PWP). Existing Franchisees may directly contact Franchisee Manager and submit your EoI to get empaneled as BSNLs Public WiFi Partner.
Dear readers, please share this latest plans launched by BSNL for Public WiFi Hotspots being provided via Public WiFi Partners (PWPs) and Public Data Offices (PDOs). How many of you are aware of BSNL’s newly announced Open Policy for WiFi Services? Please do share this latest plans for PDOs among all BSNL Franchisees and BSNL Employees. let us discuss about the business prospects of Public WiFi Services in India especially in Rural and Remote Villages.
