Nokia Siemens bags BSNL village contract
12 Oct, 2007, 0100 hrs IST, TNN

NEW DELHI: Nokia Siemens Networks has bagged a greenfield rural tender from BSNL to deploy broadband access across 7,000 Indian villages.

The two-year agreement includes supply, installation and commissioning, training and annual maintenance. BSNL and Nokia Siemens did not reveal the deal size. The first phase of new lines deployment will be completed by Q1 of 2008.

The new access network’s high bandwidth will allow BSNL to deliver high data and triple play intensive services such as video on demand, video multi cast, IPTV, video conferencing and VPN among others to its customers. The network will also enable BSNL to provide connectivity to CSCs (Community Service Centres) and other e-governance locations, Nokia Siemens Networks said in a statement.

This is the second rural broadband access tender BSNL has awarded to Nokia Siemens Networks. The company is also in parallel deploying the urban broadband access for BSNL across 15 circles. The first phase of that roll-out is in advance stages of completion for 800,000 ports.

BSNL chairman and managing director Kuldeep Goyal said that the PSU’s rural broadband project will bridge digital divide and connect 20,000 villages in “India is a pioneer in providing affordable high-quality communications services to Indian consumers and this mega broadband expansion initiative is another step in that direction,” he said.

Source: The Economic Times

BSNL challenges TRAI's order on domestic leased circuit
12 Oct, 2007, 0103 hrs IST, PTI

NEW DELHI: State-run telecom company BSNL on Thursday challenged in the sectoral tribunal regulator TRAI's direction to open up the domestic leased circuit to the private sector, contending that its implementation would hurt the PSU's business significantly.

Admitting the BSNL's petition to stay the regulator's direction, the Telecom Dispute Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) issued notices to TRAI asking it to file its reply within four weeks.

TRAI on September 14 issued a notification mandating the government firms BSNL and MTNL to open up the domestic leased circuit (DLC) to the private cellular operators for the last mile connectivity. Moreover, the regulator has also directed the PSUs to confirm availability of the circuits within 30 days of any formal request by the private operator.

BSNL and MTNL had earlier said that TRAI's direction on opening up of DLC would lead to hoarding of last mile connections by the private sector, rendering the two PSUs uncompetitive and would affect their operations. Under these directions, BSNL and MTNL are bound to provide interconnection to the private cellular operator's network at farthest point, which are often considered unprofitable.

Earlier, it (last mile connectivity) was done through commercial negotiations between BSNL and any other player but with this order it will be mandatory for the PSU to provide the link. "TRAI has made mandatory compulsion. We have to provide our network at the last mile to service provider within 30 days of the request," said counsel appearing for BSNL.

Source: The Economic Times

Forum demands ‘Navaratna’ status to BSNL

Staff Reporter

“Cancel FDIs in private telecom companies”

— Photo: N. Rajesh

Get latest gadgets: Members of Joint Forum of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited Unions/Associations staging a demonstration in Tuticorin on Thursday.

Tuticorin: The telecom employees affiliated to Joint Forum of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited Unions/Associations staged a demonstration in front of their General Manager’s office here on Thursday, to pres their charter of demands.

J. Linga Bhaskar, president of the forum, said that the authorities concerned should take steps to procure gadgets to establish third generation Global System for Mobile communication lines at the earliest.

The BSNL should be granted ‘Navaratna’ status, as the organisation was graded ‘excellent’ for the past two years and ‘very good’ during this year.

The decision to increase the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in private telecom companies should be cancelled. The Access Digital Charges and Universal Service Obligation fund should not be phased out.

Mr. Bhaskar said that the stipulation which asks the BSNL to pay the balance sum to the Government if pension amount was computed more than 60 per cent of the total payment by the organisation towards dividend, license fee, corporate tax, excise duty and service tax, should be cancelled.

The forum wanted the Government to take quick action to ensure absorption of entire Group ‘A’ and Indian Telecom Service officers into the BSNL fold. “Presently, most of them are stuck with the Department of Telecommunications even seven years after BSNL was constituted in 2000 and are now working for BSNL on deputation basis, which was affecting the growth, development and expansion of the firm,” he said.

The Government should grant the merger of 50 per cent of DA with the basic pay with effect from January 1, 2004. About 150 employees took part in the agitation.

Source: The Hindu

Telecom News dated 13-10-2007.