BSNL's 'E-PCO' to PCOs in Karnataka

Bangalore, Aug 18: Public Sector BSNL has come out with an attractive business plan 'E-PCO' to benefit over four lakh BSNL enabled Public Call Offices (PCO) in Karnataka, which were suffering revenue loss following the advent of GSM and CDMA mobile services, Karnataka PCO Operators Association President S V Rajendra said today.

Talking to presspersons here, he said that 'E-PCO', which enables PCO operator to offer value added services with Broadband connectivities, was launched in collaboration with the Intel, Karantaka PCO Association, and ItzCash. Stating that the 'E-PCO' service, the first of its kind in the country, he said that it would help to drive self-employment, bridge the digital divide and increase IT adoption in semi-urban and rural areas.

He said that with BSNL have decided to provide Broadband facility to all its PCO's across the state free of cost and no monthly rent a PCO operator can offer host of services to citizens in its neighbouring locality including railway tickets, bus tickets, flight tickets, internet browsing, checking emails and other related value added facilities.

Mr Rajendran said that with the advent of GSM and CDMA mobile services the number of PCO's operating in Karantaka have drastically came down from 10 lakhs to 4 four lakhs and vis-a-vis revenue also.

The PCO's were contributing over 65 per cent of the total revenue to BSNL was reduced to only 20 per cent from now.

"With the launch of E-PCO the negative trend was likely to reverse which would be benefited to all stake holders including BSNL, Consumers and also PCO operators" he said.

Outlining the concept of E-PCO center, Mr Rajendran said that Intel, the world leader in silicon innovation has developed and bringing the technology which would be made available to all the PCO operators to employ it. The PCO Association, Karantaka has decided to popularise it by introducing in all the district headquarters for the benefit of its members. BSNL Karnataka, Intel, ItzCash and Karnataka Government have partnered in bringing this innovative technology envisaged to accelerate broadband connectivity in rural areas and bridge digital devoid, he said.

Spaking after launching the service, Karnataka Minister for IT Katta Subramanya Naidu said that the E-PCO concept would help to take technology to rural areas which were deprived of such facilities.

Karnataka government will offer all co-operation to further penetrate the use of Broadband network to remote areas also, he said.

UNI