BSNL to set up mobile towers in all border outposts in Assam

Public sector undertaking BSNL today said it will set up mobile towers in all border outposts in Assam by 2017, helping consumers with better connectivity. "So far, we were not allowed to set up towers in border areas due to security reasons.

After the government approved the proposal, now we are in the process of setting up the towers in each border outpost," BSNL Chief General Manager (Assam Telecom Circle) Rajiv Yadav told reporters here.

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The tendering process by the company is currently progressing, he said. "In entire North-East, we have 450 BOPs and Assam has little less than 200. We will complete the work by 2017.

This will significantly increase the mobile connectivity in border areas," Yadav said. The CGM said BSNL has tied up with Power Grid Corporation to use 10 GB of bandwidth for connecting capital cities and other important towns in North-East.

"This system will be ready by October this year and will help us in reducing frequent disruptions in connectivity due to cuts in underground network. For this, we have to pay Rs 50 crore annually to Power Grid," he said.

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Yadav said the company has got approval from each state electricity board in North-East for laying overhead optical fibre network to avoid cutting of wires. Talking about the company's financial performance, he said, "The Assam Circle recorded Rs 100 crore loss and Rs 450 crore revenue in the last fiscal.

During the current financial year, we hope to increase our revenue to Rs 500 crore and narrow our loss to Rs 50 crore." BSNL's Assam Circle, which employs 4,000 people, has over 12 lakh mobile customers with around nine per cent market share.

The company also has 1.5 lakh landline customers, which is decreasing five to six per cent annually, Yadav added.

Source: PTI