Lok Sabha Question No. 2496 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-12-26
Subject: Performance of BSNL and MTNL
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: KAUSHALENDRA KUMAR, NEELAM SONKER, M. CHANDRAKASI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2496 TO BE ANSWERED ON 26 TH  DECEMBER, 2018

## PERFORMANCE OF BSNL AND MTNL

## †2496. SHRI KAUSHALENDRA KUMAR:

- SHRIMATI NEELAM SONKER: SHRI M. CHANDRAKASI:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has reviewed the performance of BSNL and MTNL and if so, the details and the outcome thereof;
- (b) the financial performance including the profit earned by them during each of the last three years and the current year, State/UT-wise;
- (c) the market percentage share of BSNL and MTNL in terms of number of landline and mobile phone connections during the same period alongwith the reasons for decline reported, if any, in its customer base on account of poor services;
- (d) whether  services  and  connectivity  of  the  said  public  sector  Telecom  Service Providers (TSPs) have deteriorated in comparison to private TSPs and if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
- (e) whether  the  BSNL  network  connectivity  is  reportedly  very  poor  in  Bihar  and various other states of the country and if so, the details thereof, State/UT-wise; and
- (f) the efforts made by the Government to improve the quality of services of BSNL and MTNL to enable them to compete with the private TSPs?

## ANSWER

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

(a) & (b) During  the  current  FY  2018-19  (upto  30.09.2018)  BSNL's  Revenue, Expenditure and Profit(Loss) are Rs.11115 Crore, Rs.15959 Crore and Rs.(4844) Crore respectively.    During  the  current  FY  2018-19  (upto  30.09.2018)  MTNL's  Revenue, Expenditure and Profit(Loss)  are Rs.1229 Crore, Rs.3031 Crore and Rs.(1802) Crore respectively. State/UT-wise details of financial performance including the profit earned by  BSNL and MTNL during each of the last three years and the current year, are at Annexure-I.

(c) The market  share of BSNL and MTNL in terms of number of landline and mobile phone connections during the last three years are as under:

| S. No.   | As on      | Percentage of Market Share of BSNL and MTNL   | Percentage of Market Share of BSNL and MTNL   | Percentage of Market Share of BSNL and MTNL   | Percentage of Market Share of BSNL and MTNL   | Percentage of Market Share of BSNL and MTNL   | Percentage of Market Share of BSNL and MTNL   |
|----------|------------|-----------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------|
| S. No.   | As on      | Wireline Connections                          | Wireline Connections                          | Mobile Connections                            | Mobile Connections                            | Total Connections                             | Total Connections                             |
| S. No.   | As on      | BSNL                                          | MTNL                                          | BSNL                                          | MTNL                                          | BSNL                                          | MTNL                                          |
| 1        | 31.03.2016 | 58.63                                         | 56.42                                         | 9.66                                          | 4.50                                          | 9.59                                          | 8.29                                          |
|          | 31.03.2017 | 56.15                                         | 55.27                                         | 9.97                                          | 4.03                                          | 9.63                                          | 7.37                                          |
|          | 31.03.2018 | 54.42                                         | 54.13                                         | 11.51                                         | 3.94                                          | 10.26                                         | 7.16                                          |
|          | 30.09.2018 | 52.64                                         | 53.41                                         | 12.64                                         | 3.99                                          | 10.48                                         | 7.23                                          |

Note:  The  percentage  of  market  share  of  BSNL  &  MTNL  is  as  per  their  areas  of operation.

The market share of BSNL in respect of mobile phone connection has increased marginally. However there is marginal decline in land line connection which was due to general  trend  of  shift  of  landline  customers  towards  more  handy  and  cheaper  mobile phones.

There is a marginal decline in the market share of MTNL with respect to wireless and  wireline  services  due  to  highly  competitive  market  as  well  as  lack  of  funds  for upgradation/ expansion of its network.

(d) & (e) As  per  Performance  Monitoring  Report  (PMR)  of  TRAI  for  the  quarter ending September 2018, BSNL is meeting the benchmarks for all the Quality of Service (QoS) parameters in all the LSAs including Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu for Cellular Mobile Telephone Services, except the parameters for assessing call drop viz 'Network QoS  DCR  Spatial  distribution  measure  or  DCR  Network\_QSD (90,90) (benchmark  2%)',    and  'Network  QoS  DCR  temporal  distribution  measure  or  DCR Network\_QTD  (97,90)  (benchmark  ≤  3%)',  in  West  Bengal  LSA  only.    Whereas, Mahanagar  Telephone  Nigam  Limited  (MTNL)  is  meeting  all  QoS  paramerers  in  its LSAs i.e. Delhi and Mumbai.

(f) Steps taken by BSNL and MTNL to improve the quality of their services to enable them to compete with the private TSPs are at Annexure-II.

Details  of  financial  performance  including  the  profit  earned  by  BSNL  and  MTNL  during  the financial year 2017-18 :

(Rs in Crores)

| S.No.   | State/Circle          | Revenue   | Expenditure   | Profit(Loss)   |
|---------|-----------------------|-----------|---------------|----------------|
|         | BSNL                  |           |               |                |
| 1       | Andaman & Nicobar     | 219       | 62            | 158            |
| 2       | Andhra Pradesh        | 2143      | 2939          | (796)          |
| 3       | Assam                 | 324       | 629           | (305)          |
| 4       | Bihar                 | 529       | 872           | (343)          |
| 5       | Chhattisgarh          | 363       | 437           | (74)           |
| 6       | Chennai TD            | 748       | 946           | (198)          |
| 7       | Gujarat               | 1229      | 1852          | (623)          |
| 8       | Haryana               | 629       | 803           | (175)          |
| 9       | Himachal Pradesh      | 291       | 406           | (115)          |
| 10      | Jammu & Kashmir       | 343       | 375           | (33)           |
| 11      | Jharkhand             | 450       | 629           | (180)          |
| 12      | Karnataka             | 2080      | 2306          | (225)          |
| 13      | Kerala                | 2642      | 2268          | 373            |
| 14      | Kolkata TD            | 567       | 981           | (414)          |
| 15      | Madhya Pradesh        | 704       | 1148          | (444)          |
| 16      | Maharashtra           | 3029      | 3044          | (15)           |
| 17      | North East-I          | 149       | 271           | (122)          |
| 18      | North East-II         | 174       | 255           | (80)           |
| 19      | Odisha                | 774       | 863           | (89)           |
| 20      | Punjab                | 1014      | 1267          | (253)          |
| 21      | Rajasthan             | 913       | 1410          | (497)          |
| 22      | Tamil Nadu            | 1845      | 2246          | (401)          |
| 23      | Uttar Pradesh (East)  | 1119      | 1671          | (552)          |
| 24      | Uttar Pradesh (West)  | 602       | 1024          | (422)          |
| 25      | Uttarakhand           | 240       | 340           | (100)          |
| 26      | West Bengal           | 509       | 981           | (472)          |
|         | MTNL (Delhi & Mumbai) | 3116      | 6089          | (2973)         |

Details  of  financial  performance  including  the  profit  earned  by  BSNL  and  MTNL  during  the financial year 2016-17:

(Rs in Crores)

| S.No.   | State/Circle         | Revenue   | Expenditure   | Profit(Loss)   |
|---------|----------------------|-----------|---------------|----------------|
|         | BSNL                 |           |               |                |
| 1       | Andaman & Nicobar    | 191       | 65            | 126            |
| 2       | Andhra Pradesh       | 2617      | 3042          | (425)          |
| 3       | Assam                | 511       | 633           | (122)          |
| 4       | Bihar                | 550       | 959           | (409)          |
| 5       | Chhattisgarh         | 445       | 419           | 26             |
| 6       | Chennai TD           | 973       | 956           | 17             |
| 7       | Gujarat              | 1521      | 1982          | (460)          |
| 8       | Haryana              | 800       | 860           | (60)           |
| 9       | Himachal Pradesh     | 374       | 429           | (55)           |
| 10      | Jammu & Kashmir      | 462       | 432           | 30             |
| 11      | Jharkhand            | 435       | 611           | (177)          |
| 12      | Karnataka            | 2312      | 2473          | (161)          |
| 13      | Kerala               | 3177      | 2454          | 723            |
| 14      | Kolkata TD           | 697       | 1029          | (332)          |
| 15      | Madhya Pradesh       | 961       | 1199          | (238)          |
| 16      | Maharashtra          | 3391      | 3279          | 112            |
| 17      | North East-I         | 218       | 324           | (106)          |
| 18      | North East-II        | 195       | 263           | (67)           |
| 19      | Odisha               | 928       | 902           | 27             |
| 20      | Punjab               | 1366      | 1304          | 62             |
| 21      | Rajasthan            | 1196      | 1476          | (280)          |
| 22      | Tamil Nadu           | 2177      | 2357          | (180)          |
| 23      | Uttar Pradesh (East) | 1490      | 1928          | (439)          |
| 24      | Uttar Pradesh (West) | 763       | 1162          | (398)          |
| 25      | Uttarakhand          | 270       | 360           | (90)           |
| 26      | West Bengal          | 886       | 1165          | (279)          |
|         | MTNL (Delhi &Mumbai) | 3552      | 6493          | (2941)         |

Details  of  financial  performance  including  the  profit  earned  by  BSNL  and  MTNL  during  the financial year 2015-16 :

(Rs in Crores)

| S.No.   | State/Circle          | Revenue   | Expenditure   | Profit(Loss)   |
|---------|-----------------------|-----------|---------------|----------------|
|         | BSNL                  |           |               |                |
| 1       | Andaman & Nicobar     | 158       | 73            | 85             |
| 2       | Andhra Pradesh        | 2572      | 3231          | (660)          |
| 3       | Assam                 | 469       | 690           | (221)          |
| 4       | Bihar                 | 474       | 979           | (505)          |
| 5       | Chhattisgarh          | 343       | 406           | (63)           |
| 6       | Chennai TD            | 975       | 1014          | (39)           |
| 7       | Gujarat               | 1501      | 2023          | (522)          |
| 8       | Haryana               | 804       | 869           | (64)           |
| 9       | Himachal Pradesh      | 412       | 489           | (77)           |
| 10      | Jammu & Kashmir       | 459       | 448           | 12             |
| 11      | Jharkhand             | 271       | 513           | (241)          |
| 12      | Karnataka             | 2498      | 2441          | 57             |
| 13      | Kerala                | 3059      | 2475          | 584            |
| 14      | Kolkata TD            | 693       | 1103          | (410)          |
| 15      | Madhya Pradesh        | 1011      | 1253          | (242)          |
| 16      | Maharashtra           | 2931      | 3560          | (629)          |
| 17      | North East-I          | 204       | 364           | (160)          |
| 18      | North East-II         | 327       | 407           | (80)           |
| 19      | Odisha                | 930       | 899           | 31             |
| 20      | Punjab                | 1119      | 1381          | (262)          |
| 21      | Rajasthan             | 1354      | 1504          | (150)          |
| 22      | Tamil Nadu            | 2161      | 2491          | (330)          |
| 23      | Uttar Pradesh (East)  | 1524      | 2100          | (575)          |
| 24      | Uttar Pradesh (West)  | 794       | 1208          | (413)          |
| 25      | Uttarakhand           | 288       | 374           | (87)           |
| 26      | West Bengal           | 580       | 1108          | (528)          |
|         | MTNL (Delhi & Mumbai) | 3513      | 6351          | (2838)         |

## Steps taken by BSNL:

1. BSNL is augmenting its mobile network progressively so as to enhance coverage, capacity and  to  further  improve  the  Quality  of  Service.  BSNL  is  also  optimizing  its  network continuously for its performance.
2. Focus has been given to continuous drive test and optimization of the network. Quality of mobile services of BSNL is comparable to other telecom service providers of the country.
3. BSNL continuously surveys for the low signal area and take corrective measures.
4. Node B ip-fication in all circles are being done for improving data speed of CMTS network.
5. Mechanism has been introduced in order to monitor day-to-day call drop status in BSNL on PAN INDIA basis. In case any deviation in call drop is observed, immediate remedial action is taken to smoothen the same.
6. Round the clock Toll free compliant booking mechanism. A stringent monitoring procedure is being adopted for prompt and timely clearance of customer complaints through exclusive section at all level of organization.
7. Provision of ring system for exchanges for redundancy in connectivity.
8. 8 Since the Fixed land line faults mainly occur due to damage of UG cable during road works, all  circles/field units have been asked for close coordination with the Local bodies, PWD, Water  Authority  and  NHAI  authorities.  In  addition,  regular  patrolling  of  important  cable routes is done to prevent cable thefts/cable damages.
9. Monitoring  of  the  network  has  also  been  strengthened  to  ensure  further  improvement  in Quality of Service.
10. Timely availability of store items like cable, drop-wire to field units of BSNL to maintain and improve the network.
11. Rehabilitation of outdoor network is under process to reduce the landline faults.
12. The  exchanges  failure  due  to  OFC  faults  and  Local  cable  breakdown  is      attended quickly.

## Steps taken by MTNL:

1. MTNL has undertaken the task of improving its mobile network in Delhi and Mumbai to improve the downlink speed of 21.1 Mbps & uplink speed of 5.76 Mbps from 3.6 Mbps & 384 Kbps respectively.
2. Redeployment of Digital Subscribers Line Access Modules (DSLAMs) of existing wireline broadband network near to the subscriber premises thereby reducing copper length and enhancing the quality of broadband service.
3. Introduction of new policy to engage partners on revenue share basis to extend its FTTH services, to provide high speed broadband services to its customers.
4. MTNL  has  signed  an  MoU  with  New  Delhi  Municipal  Corporation  Smart  City  Limited (NDMCSCL)  on  18.08.2017,  with  the  objective  to  provide  various  services  like  FTTH, Public Wi-Fi for making NDMC area as a SMART City.
5. Download Speed of Broadband subscribers is being upgraded to 8 Mbps progressively without any additional cost depending upon feasibility and line parameters.
6. Upgradation of outdoor network by refurbishing of Pillars and DPs is planned in phased manner to minimise the faults.
7. To  improve  copper  pair  quality,  old  drop  wire  was  replaced  with  twisted  drop  wire  and thermo sleeves have been put on open joints.
8. Proactive Monitoring of Broadband Faults.

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