Lok Sabha Question No. 3760 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-12-11
Subject: Customer Base of BSNL and MTNL
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: Badruddin Ajmal

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3760 TO BE ANSWERED ON 11 TH   DECEMBER, 2019

## CUSTOMER BASE OF BSNL AND MTNL

## 3760. SHRI M. BADRUDDIN AJMAL:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  MTNL  and  BSNL  have  failed  to  attract  the  mobile  customers  because  of  poor services and facilities as compared to private telecom companies and if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor along with the steps taken by the Government in this regard;
- (b) whether MTNL and BSNL do not have enough infrastructure and manpower; and
- (c) if so, the details thereof and the steps taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMUNICATIONS, HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI SANJAY DHOTRE)

(a) to (c) Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) monitors the performance of telecom service  providers  including  Bharat  Sanchar  Nigam  Limited  (BSNL)  and  Mahanagar  Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL)against the benchmark for various Quality of Service (QoS) parameters laid down by TRAI by way of QoS regulations issued from time to time, through Quarterly Performance Monitoring Reports (PMRs) and the performance is assessed for the service area as a whole.

As per PMR issued by TRAI for the quarter ending September 2019, BSNL and MTNL are meeting all the benchmarks for all the parameter in its Licensed Service Areas (LSAs)except for the parameter for call drops in West Bengal service area only by BSNL.

Number of subscribers of BSNL and MTNL for the last three years is as under:

| S.   | PSU   | Number of subscribers (in crore) as on   | Number of subscribers (in crore) as on   | Number of subscribers (in crore) as on   |
|------|-------|------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------|
| No.  |       | 31.03.2017                               | 31.03.2018                               | 31.03.2019                               |
| 1    | BSNL  | 11.51                                    | 12.41                                    | 12.69                                    |
| 2    | MTNL  | 0.71                                     | 0.69                                     | 0.67                                     |

Despite  stiff  competition,  BSNL  is  managing  to  increase  its  subscriber's  base.    However, there is marginal decline in subscriber's base of MTNL.

BSNL has informed  that  to  further  improve  its  network  and  services  in  all  its  LSAs,  it  is continuously adding new equipment and updating existing equipment in both urban and rural areas under  various  network  expansion  phases.  MTNL  has  informed  that  it  has  recently  improved  its wireless network by increasing the download and upload speed.

Further, the Cabinet in the meeting held on 23.10.2019 approved the revival plan for BSNL and MTNL. With the revival plan, it is expected that BSNL/MTNL will turn around soon and will be able  to  provide  improved  services.  The  revival  plan  also  includes  administrative  allotment  of spectrum to BSNL/MTNL for providing 4G services. With 4G services, BSNL/MTNL will be able to offer high speed wireless data services, which will make them competitive and further improve the customer experience.

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