Manoj Sinha to BSNL: Target 11% market share in this financial year

Telecom Minister Manoj Sinha has asked State- run telecom operator Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited ( BSNL), to set a target of 11 percent market share in this financial year from the current 9.35 percent.

He also asked the company to strengthen its broadband and wireline services.

"This time, we have seen a growth of 0.3 percent in the market share. Next time when we meet, it should not be less than 10 (percent). I expect it to be 10.5 percent, but if it crosses 11 percent, we will take whatsoever special steps required for BSNL," Sinha added.

He further added BSNL has improved on its operating profit for 2017 fiscal when all other operators have faced losses due to competition.

"The consumption of data from the first quarter to the second quarter has increased almost 60 percent, and in the third quarter, it rose by 3.5 times the consumption of the second quarter," the minister said at BSNL event.

Meanwhile, State-run telecom operator BSNL signed a Memorandum of Understandings ( MOU) with the Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF), to set up 25,000 Wi-Fi hotspots in its rural exchanges by next four months.

The MOU is signed in front of Telecom Minister Manoj Sinha.

BSNL said that 25,000 Wi-Fi hotspots shall be funded from the USO Fund, with the government providing full capital expenditure and operational expenditure (OPEX) support to the tune of Rs 940 crore for the project.

"The OPEX support of 100 percent shall be provided by USOF for the first year and thereafter 75 percent in the second year, 50 percent support in the third year of operation shall be extended to BSNL," the statement said.

"Under this project, one Wi-Fi Acess Point shall be set up initially in each rural exchange," it added.

"That is why it was necessary that when this project is completed, the digital divide in the rural areas will be ended. The government has taken some immediate (urgent) solutions to that such as the step of providing services through 25,000 Wi-Fi Hotspots and it has been entrusted to the BSNL."