BSNL To Expand Network Capacity To Reclaim The Top Position

Chairman and managing director of BSNL, RK Upadhyay has said that the telecom operator will be expanding it's network capacity to once again reclaim the position of leading telecom operator.

"We lagged behind other private companies, as we could not purchase the required equipment in the last 4-5 years due to many reasons. Now everything is okay and tenders to purchase has been floated," said Upadhyay to economictimes.

"BSNL has planned a Rs 40,000 crore capital for the purpose," he added.

Further more, he adds that the company is looking convert present telephone exchanges into New Generation Network, in order to give all mobile facilities to land line subscribers.

"29,000 such exchanges shall be converted to NGN of which 28,000 are in the rural sector," said Upadhyay.

Reportedly BSNL is in the process of reducing costs to improve its profitability. Apparently PSU is awaiting government's approval for offering VRS to employees.

"BSNL is spending 52% of its capital in employees salaries as compared to other competitive companies who are just spending 5-6%," said Upadhyay.

On the other side of the story, 70 telephone exchanges are said to be affected in Uttra Khand tragedy and BSNL has restored 7 of of them. Upadhyay has said BSNL has been able to respond to 4000 calls to give the last location of lost persons through cell phone records, for the past 7 days.