Kerala has second largest BSNL network

Thiruvananthapuram, May 17 (UNI) Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) Kerala Circle Chief General Manager S R Pillai today said the Kerala circle is the second largest network among the 24 territorial circles in the country.

Speaking at a press conference here, he said Kerala circle had 59.89 lakh connections, including 36.30 lakh landlines, 4.01 lakh WLL and 19.58 lakh CMTS.

Claiming that the BSNL had the largest number of subscribers in the state, he said out of the 111 lakh phone connections, 60 lakh subscribers were depending the BSNL.

BSNL would provide 2.6 lakh new connections (0.6 lakh land lines and two lakh WLL) including the entire 1.3 lakh waiting applicants by this year, he added.

Mr Pillai hoped that the waiting list system could be abolished by next year and would provide telephones on demand.

The Chief General Manager said the BSNL would erect 1,000 more additional towers to provide uninterrupted service to its subscribers. It had already 2,000 towers in the state, he added.

He also said the BSNL had succeeded in bringing down the number of applicantsd in the waiting list to 1.3 lakh from 2.6 lakh in the previous year.

The broadband facility, which was currently available in 522 exchanges would be extended to additional 428 exchanges, thereby increasing the capacity from 54,984 to 1,54,984. One lakh ports had been ordered for broad band multiply services and the installation of equipments would start by next month, he added.

Regarding revenue, he said the total revenue realisation up to March 2007 was Rs 2,788.58 crore and was expected to achieve Rs 3,050 crore by next year.

UNI