Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited

Infobox Network
network_name = BSNL
revenue = US$ 9.67 billion (2007)
network_
Country = India
foundation = 19th century, incorporated 2000
HQ = Bharat Sanchar Bhawan, Harish Chandra Mathur Lane, Janpath, New Delhi
network_type = Communication Service Provider
available = Countrywide except Delhi & Mumbai
owner = The Government of India
key_people = Kuldeep Goyal(CMD), Praveen S [JTO]
HQ = Bharat Sanchar House, Harish Chandra Mathur Lane, Janpath New Delhi 110 001
website = [http://www.bsnl.in www.bsnl.in] [http://www.bsnl.co.in www.bsnl.co.in]

Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (known as BSNL, "India Communications Corporation Limited") is a public sector communications company in India. It is the India's largest telecommunication company with 24% market share as on March 31, 2008. Its headquarters are at Bharat Sanchar Bhawan, Harish Chandra Mathur Lane, Janpath, New Delhi. It has the status of Mini-ratna - a status assigned to reputed Public Sector companies in India.

BSNL is India's oldest and largest Communication Service Provider (CSP). Currently has a customer base of 73 million as of June 2008. [ [http://www.financialexpress.com/news/Airtel-on-way-to-becoming-Indias-largest-telco/348094/ Airtel on way to becoming India’s largest telco] ] It has footprints throughout India except for the metropolitan cities of Mumbai and New Delhi which are managed by MTNL. As on March 31, 2008 BSNL commanded a customer base of 31.55 million Wireline, 4.58 million CDMA-WLL and 36.21 million GSM Mobile subscribers. BSNL's earnings for the Financial Year ending March 31, 2007 stood at INR 397.15b (US$ 9.67 b) with net profit of INR 78.06b (US$ 1.90 billion). Today, BSNL is India's largest Telco and one of the largest Public Sector Undertaking with estimated market value of $ 100 Billion. The company is planning an IPO with in 6 months to offload 10% to public in the Rs 300-400 range valuing the company at over $100 billion.

Main Services being provided by BSNL

BSNL provides almost every telecom service, however following are the main Telecom Services being provided by BSNL in India:-

1. Universal Telecom Sevices : Fixed wireline services & Wireless in Local loop (WLL) using CDMA Technology called bfone and "Tarang" respectively. BSNL is dominant operator in fixed line. As on December 31, 2007, BSNL had 81% marketshare of fixed lines.

2. Cellular Mobile Telephone Services: BSNL is major provider of Cellular Mobile Telephone services using GSM platform under brandname CellOne [http://bsnl.co.in/service/mobile_cellone.htm] . Pre-paid Cellular services of BSNL are know as Excel [http://bsnl.co.in/service/mobile_excel.htm] . As on March 31, 2007 BSNL had 17% share of mobile telephony in the country.

3. Internet: BSNL is providing internet as dial-up connection (Sancharnet) [http://www.netone.in/service/internet.htm] as Prepaid, (Netone) [http://www.netone.in/service/internet_typeofaccess.htm#cli] as Postpaid and ADSL-Broadband Dataone [http://bsnl.co.in/service/dataone.htm] . BSNL has around 50% marketshare in broadband in India. BSNL has planned aggressive rollout in broadband for current financial year.

4. Intelligent Network (IN): BSNL is providing IN services like tele-voting, toll free calling, premium calling etc.

BSNL Units

BSNL is divided into a number of administrative units, termed as telecom circles, metro districts, project circles and specialized units, as mentioned below:-

4. Telecom Factory, Kolkata

Training Institutions

1. [http://www.alttc.bsnl.co.in/ Advanced Level Telecom Training Centre(ALTTC)]
2. [http://www.brbraitt.bsnl.co.in Bharat Ratna Bhim Rao Ambedkar Institute Of Telecom Training]
3. [http://natfm.bsnl.co.in National Academy of Telecom Finance and Management]
Other Units 1. Telecom Stores
2. [http://www.electrical.bsnl.co.in/ Telecom Electrical Wing]
3. [http://www.civil.bsnl.co.in:8080/civilbsnl/default.jsp/ Telecom Civil Wing]

BSNL Present & Future

Since its corporatisation in October 2000, BSNL has been actively providing connections in both Urban and Rural areas and the efficiency of the company has drastically improved from the days when one had to wait for years to get a phone connection to now when one can get a connection in even hours. Pre-activated Mobile connections are available at many places across India. BSNL has also unveiled very cost-effective Broadband internet access plans (DataOne) targeted at homes and small businesses. At present BSNL enjoy's around 45% of market share of ISP services. [ [http://www.business-standard.com/iceworld/storypage.php?leftnm=8&subLeft=2&chklogin=N&autono=266455&tab=r Reliance Life Insurance ] ]

2007 has been declared as "Year of Broadband" in India and BSNL is in the process of providing 5 million Broadband connectivity by the end of 2007. BSNL has upgraded existing Dataone (Broadband) connections for a speed of up to 2 Mbit/s without any extra cost. This 2 Mbit/s broadband service is being provided by BSNL at a cost of just US$ 11.7 per month(as of 21/07/2008 and at a limit of 2.5GB monthly limit with 0200-0800 hrs as no charge period). Further, BSNL is rolling out new Broadband services as Triple play (telecommunications).
BSNL is planning to increase its customer base to 108 million customers by 2010. With the frantic activity in the communication sector in India, the target appears achievable, however due to intense competition in Indian Telecom sector in recent past BSNL's growth has slowed down.
BSNL is pioneer of Rural Telephony in India. BSNL has recently bagged 80% of US$ 580 m (INR 2,500 crores) Rural Telephony project of Government of India. [ [http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/006200703280310.htm The Hindu News Update Service ] ]

Challenges

During Financial Year 2006-2007 (From April 1, 2006 to March 31, 2007) BSNL has added 9.6 million new customers in various telephone services taking its customer base to 64.8 million. BSNL's nearest competitor Bharti Airtel is standing at a customer base of 39 million. However, despite impressive growth shown by BSNL in recent times, the Fixed line customer base of BSNL is declining. In order to woo back its fixed-line customers BSNL has brought down long distance calling rate under OneIndia plan, however, the success of the scheme is not known. However, BSNL faces bleak fiscal 2006-2007 as users flee, which has been accepted by the CMD BSNL. [ [http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=228445 BSNL faces bleak fiscal as users flee ] ]

Presently there is an intense competition in Indian Telecom sector and various Telcos are rolling out attractive schemes and are providing good customer services.

Access Deficit Charges (ADC, a levy being paid by the private operators to BSNL for provide service in non-lucrative areas especially rural areas) has been slashed by 37% by TRAI, w.e.f. April 1, 2007. [ [http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/Magazines/The_Sunday_ET/The_Week_That_Was/Trai_slashes_ADC_by_37_ILD_calls_to_cost_20_less/articleshow/1804327.cms Trai slashes ADC by 37%, ILD calls to cost 20% less- The Week That Was-The Sunday ET-ET Features-The Economic Times ] ] The reduction in ADC may hit the bottomlines of BSNL.

External links

* [http://www.bsnl.in/ BSNL Corporate Official site]
* [http://www.mobileforum.net.in/bsnl-cellone-excel/ BSNL Forum] Unofficial Bsnl Community