Telecom services in WB to be strengthen by next general polls

Kolkata, Dec 12 (UNI) The telephone and broadband services in West Bengal will be strengtened and extended to remote corners of the state in view of the next Lok Sabha polls.

Addressing a seminar on Telecom Revolution:Vision and Plans by 2012, Kolkata Telephones Chief General Manager S K Chakrabarty said they were trying to extend the broadband services in the rural and suburbs before the general elections.

''We cant assure a cent per cent coverage but hope to penetrate most of the rural villages,''Dr Chakravarty said.

He also informed that India's mobile market was growing at 6-7 million new subscribers per month and by 2012 it is expected to reach over half a billion.

He also informed that the BSNL would be providing World-Phone internet services at cheaper rates across the country by using VOIP technology. The services is currently available in Mumbai and New Delhi.

Quoting TRAI Chairman Nipendra Misra, Dr Chakraborty said the regulatory authority have announced to offer 3G mobile telephony to the operators, which would enable the subscribers to access fast video downloads, internet calls, stock trading from handsets and many other advanced features.

The Department of Telecom would soon launch WiMAX technology in the country by next year and that three slots had been reserved for MTNL/BSNL and two slots for private players, the CGM informed.

He also added that the local calls would cost just 10 paisa after the implementation of IPTV by March. IPTV was launched in the city this year but was not implemented followinng some package issues.

UNI