Telecom Lead India: Due to tough terrain and geographical
isolation, the state-run BSNL has will set up telecom connectivity through
Bangladesh for the northeastern region of the country.
As per the plan, the connectivity would be set up between
Agartala and Dhaka via Akhaura in Bangladesh and between Sabroom in south
Tripura and Cox’s Bazar in Chittagong, Bangladesh, to provide smooth telecom
connectivity.
The teleco has already laid optical fibre cable (OFC)
between Kolkata and Dhaka and the implementation of the new telecom policy in
next financial year will allow BSNL to expand telecom network across rural
India.
“The ministry has attached much importance in
consolidating telecom network in north east region and we are interested in
setting up an alternative route through Bangladesh due to tough terrain,”
said R K Upadhayaya, chairman and managing director of BSNL.
The executive said that BSNL would retain its business
and buy more equipment to provide better service in the country and compete
with other telecom companies.
Furthermore, the Government has planned to extend OFC to
25,000 panchayats across the country to provide broadband services.
Recently,
BSNL urged the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) to waive 3G
spectrum usage charge for a few years in order to become more competitive in
the market place.
According to BSNL, the tariff for data service offered by
BSNL is the most competitive and reasonable.
BSNL suggested that the focus of TRAI should be to
protect the interest of operators in addition to protecting the interest of
consumers. Almost all operators are on the negative growth of profitability.
The revenue accrued from 3G services is yet to match the cost of capital of the
3G spectrum fees.
