BSNL to Launch Mobile Services in September

BSNL has plans to launch its mobile services in September across all state
capitals and important cities across the country. This was announced by
Prithipal Singh, chairman and managing director, BSNL who was in Pune to
inaugurate the first call center set up by BSNL in Maharashtra. He said that the
brand name of the service would be announced first. Singh said that BSNL is
chalking out an extremely competitive tariff plans before the launch. The launch
will be preceded by the announcement of the brand name which will be crucial for
the visibility among customers, he said, adding that the telecom service
provider is also gearing up to form revenue sharing arrangements with others for
its other offerings.

BSNL also plans to launch its broadband services in six cities on a pilot
basis in collaboration with private content providers in the near future. Under
the broadband plan, BSNL will offer video on demand, interactive TV, bandwidth
on Internet as well as cable TV by the end of this year, he said. BSNL has
allocated Rs. 200 crore marketing budget for the current year. Singh said that
the telecom service providers services tariff will have in-built advantages in
it subject to TRAI approval. BSNL’s 1500 call center program will also be the
central customer interface for existing and yet-to-be launched services. All
call centers shall be linked across the country so that a common database can be
accessed in order to help the customer contact the service provider for issues
related to settlement of bills from time to time. BSNL is developing a
convergent billing system, which will allow the company to customize billing
packages. Plans for these will be finalized in March 03.