Lok Sabha Question No. 6299 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-04-12
Subject: Free/Cheaper Services by BSNL
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: A. ARUNMOZHITHEVAN

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.6299 TO BE ANSWERED ON 12 TH   APRIL, 2017

## FREE/CHEAPER SERVICES BY BSNL

## 6299. SHRI A. ARUNMOZHITHEVAN:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the BSNL proposes to provide free voice calling on its network and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the BSNL proposes to offer plans/tariff cheaper than tariffs offered by private players and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (c) whether  the  BSNL  runs  the  risks  of  incurring  losses  in  the  event  of  providing free/cheap services and if so, the details thereof and the steps taken by the Government to cover the  aid risks?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE (IC) OF THE MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS & MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS (SHRI MANOJ SINHA)

- (a) No Madam. However, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) offers unlimited voice calls on its own mobile and landline network under   various plans.  Details are at Annexure.
- (b) BSNL reviews  its  tariff  from  time  to  time  based  on  market  conditions  and  the  tariff offered by BSNL is competitive in comparison to other private operators.
- (c) There  is  a  severe  and  cut  throat  competition  in  the  market  since  last  few  months leading to lowering of tariff by different telecom service providers. BSNL also matched the offers  by  lowering its  tariff,  consequently  BSNL  runs the risk of incurring losses. However, BSNL has taken following steps to maintain and increase its revenue:
- i) Mobile  equipment  is  being  procured  and  upgraded  progressively  for  capacity augmentation of BSNL's network and improvement of services.
- ii)   BSNL is upgrading its landline network with Next Generation Network (NGN) and augmenting the capacity of the Broadband Core Network for improvement of landline and broadband services.
- iii)   WiFi hotspots are progressively rolled out to enable customers to avail high speed internet over mobile devices.
- iv)    Competitive tariff is offered to its customers keeping in view the existing market conditions.

## I. Mobile Services

a. Post-paid Mobile Services : Under Plan 725, BSNL is offering unlimited local calls on own network. Under Plan 799, Plan 1125 and Plan 1525, BSNL is offering unlimited local and Subscriber Trunk Dialling (STD) calls to any network, together with different quantity of data usage. Moreover, Plan 799 is being offered with the Fixed Monthly Charges of Rs. 599 for the first four months.

## b. Prepaid Mobile Services:

BSNL is also offering unlimited calls under the following prepaid plans.

| Plan Name           | Plan 149 #                                                                                                      | Plan 439                                                                                                        |
|---------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Facilities Extended | Unlimited local/STD on own network and upto 30 minutes per day local/STD on any other network for first 30 days | Unlimited local/STD on own network and upto 30 minutes per day local/STD on any other network for first 90 days |

# Customers have the option to continue the facility beyond the initial period by using Special Tariff Voucher(STV) @142/-. With the STV, customers can avail unlimited voice calls on own network and upto 20 minutes per day to any other network for a period of 30 days.

STV with Unlimited Voice Calling facilities are offered to all the Prepaid Mobile Consumers across its service area

| Denomination of Special Tariff Vouchers (MRP in Rupees)   | Facilities Extended with validity period of 28 days                                                                  | Remarks                                                |
|-----------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------|
| 99/ 119/ 139/ 149                                         | Unlimited local/STD calls on its own network together with 500 MB data.                                              | Price point varies in different Licenced Service Areas |
| 339                                                       | Unlimited local/STD calls on its own network and upto 25 minutes/day on any other network together with 2GB data/day | Pan-India                                              |

## II. Landline Services

a. BSNL offers unlimited free calls to any network between 9 PM to 7 AM on all days and unlimited free calls to any network throughout Sundays to all its landline customers.

b. BSNL is also offering unlimited broadband services @ Rs 249/- per month for initial period of six months.

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## Annexure