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GOVERNMENT CONCEDES THE DEMAND OF TELCOS FOR SPECTRUM TRADING.

NEW DELHI: The Cabinet today cleared spectrum trading guidelines under which telecom operators will be able to sell radio waves to other service providers, a move that will help address the problem of spectrum shortage.

“Cabinet has approved spectrum trading today. Telecom sector has been demanding it for optimum utilization of spectrum,” Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said here.

As of now only government is allowed to allocate spectrum to telecom firms through auctions.

“The ownership right will be with the Government of India. We give right of use to operators through auction. That right of use can be traded between two service providers,” Prasad said.

Industry had been waiting for spectrum trading guidelines before they proceed with their consolidation plans.

Deloitte Haskins & Sells LLP Partner Hemant Joshi said that spectrum trading would provide bigger players, who have congested networks, a chance to buy new spectrum and improve the quality of service for customers.

“Spectrum trading would provide exit opportunity to operators who have not been able to build scale in India and have been facing unprofitable operations by selling off their spectrum,” Joshi said.

Last month, government approved spectrum sharing guidelines aimed at addressing spectrum shortage in the country and allowing operators to mutually use radiowaves to provide services.

The government, however, has not heeded to the industry demand of keeping the amount received from trading out of the adjusted gross revenue. As per the rule, revenue from trading will form part of component to calculate licence fee and spectrum usage charges levied annually on telecom firms.

For entering into trading agreement, telecom operators will not require prior permission from the government but they will have to inform the authorities 45 days before entering into such pacts, the minister said.

The seller and buyer entering into trading agreement will have to give an undertaking that their pact is in compliance to all rules and regulations.

“In sample check if it is found that undertaking is wrong then action will be taken including cancellation of trading agreement,” Prasad said.

The trading is also expected to indicate market rate of radiowaves. At present it is determined only through auctions conducted by the government.

“Spectrum trading has been permitted in all the bands,” Prasad said.

He said telecom operators will be able to trade spectrum allocated to them under old licensing regime after liberalising it by paying market determined price.

“Auction purchased spectrum can straight away go for trading. The buyer will have to pay 1 per cent trading fee (to government) which will be calculated based on market rate or previous rate whichever is higher” said Prasad.

( source: The Times of India.)

BSNL UPGRADES THE SPEED OF ALL LANDLINE BROADBAND CUSTOMERS FROM 512 kbps TO MINIMUM 2 Mbps.

BSNL Upgrades the speed of all Landline Broadband customers from 512 kbps to minimum 2 Mbps

Committed to the Government’s Digital initiatives announced by Hon.ble PM, BSNL has decided to upgrade Broadband speed to minimum 2 Mbps at no additional cost for all the Broadband customers on PAN-India Basis from 1st October 2015. This is another major service offering from BSNL for the benefits of customers in continuation to offering free night calling from BSNL landline to all operator network from 9:00 PM to 7:00 AM and free incoming roaming services for its mobile customers. BSNL is also offering 1Gb free E-Mail box to their customers from 50 Mb mail box.

Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad Hon’ble MOC &IT, GOI announced this today here at Gurgaon in a function organized by BSNL. The function was graced by Shri Rao Inderjeet Singh Hon’ble MOS for Planning & MOS for Defence (Independent charge) GOI. Shri Anupam Srivastav CMD BSNL, Shri N K Gupta Director (CFA), Smt Sujata Ray Director (HR) BSNL Board and Shri R C Arya CGM Haryana circle were also present on the occasion.

The speed up-gradation will benefit all the existing and new Broadband customers of BSNL. Under this scheme, BSNL is upgrading the speed of existing Broadband plans of 512 Kbps & 1 Mbps to 2 Mbps speed. With this upgradation, BSNL customers can access / surf the internet including social network websites like Facebook, Google, Twitter, etc. at high speed.

BSNL is the first service provider to provide the Broadband Access to the country. BSNL launched the Broadband services over its landline in India in 2005 with speed of 256kbps and above over the state of art Multi Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) based IP infrastructure in urban as well as Rural areas.

BSNL since then is constantly working for increasing the broadband speed for the enhanced experience of customer in urban as well as rural areas as envisaged in New Telecom Policy 2012.. Now, BSNL offers Broadband services with various plans ranging from 2 mbps to 100 mbps speed using ADSL/VDSL and fiber based GPON technology in a very affordable price range. BSNL is currently having around 10 Mn Broadband customers including about 1.1 Mn. Rural customers.

 

This up-gradation shall enhance customer experience while surfing on internet and enjoying live video streaming by all customers even in the low price range. This scheme is expected to attract new customers for subscribing BSNL Broadband customers in an affordable manner.

BSNL is one of the largest Telecom Service providers in India. BSNL has installed Quality Telecom Network in the country & focusing on improving it, expanding the network, introducing new telecom services with ICT applications. BSNL is having more than 77 Million Mobile customers, more than 16 million wired line telephone connections and around 10 million wired Broadband connections.

For further information, customers can access the BSNL Customer Care Service through Toll free number 1500 (from BSNL number) & 1800 345 1500 (from other operator number) or visit the BSNL website www.bsnl.co.in.

BSNL REVENUE INCREASED AND LOSS DECREASED- SAYS CMD, BSNL.

According to Anupam Shrivastava, CMD BSNL,  the company is managing its operational maintenance expenses and salary of employees from its own resources. It is self sufficient on as at present. The losses have come down during the last few years, from Rs.8,851 crores in 2011-12 to Rs. 7,884 crores in 2012-13, Rs. 7,019 in 2013-14 and Rs. 7,265 in 2014-15. The revenue has increased from Rs. 27,128 crore in 2013-14 to Rs. 27,996 in 2014-15.

According to CMD BSNL, the Revenue is expected to increase to Rs. 42,000 crores by 2018-19.

The continuous effort of the workers to improve the services and the new schemes have helped in improvement.But that is not sufficient. Even now, the annual loss is more than Rs.7,000. This has got to be reduced and the revenue has got to be increased much more.

The government should change its anti-BSNL policy and assist the PSU to come back to its past glory.

MEETING OF BSNLEU, AIBDPA AND BSNLCCWF AT JAIPUR.

A well attended meeting was organised at the Conference hall of BSNL Jaipur on 5th September 2015 under the auspices of BSNLEU, AIBDPA and BSNLCCWF. About 250 comrades participated, despite the fact that it was holiday for Janmashtami. The meeting was addressed by Coms. V.A.N.Namboodiri, Swapan Chakroborty, Acting GS BSNLEU, Ashok Pareek, Circle Secretary, BSNLEU Rajasthan Circle, Vijay Singh, Org. Secy, BSNLEU, K.P.Sharma, All India leader AIBDPA, S.K.Anand, CS, AIBDPA, Nagpal, Acting CS AIBDPA, A.K.Jain and other leaders. Com. VAN Namboodiri, in his speech mentioned about the orgnaisational issues and the demands of all the three organisations and the workers. He severely criticised the anti-worker policies of the government and congratulated the Rajasthan comrades for their excellent participation in the 2nd September National Strike.

GOVT COMPELLED TO ANNOUNCE ONE RANK ONE PENSION-VICTORY FOR THE DETERMINED STRUGGLE OF WAR VETERANS.

At last the Modi government had to concede the demand of One Rank One Pension for the ex- servicemen.The demand has a history of 42 years of struggle and it was one of the main poll promises of BJP and they were dilly- dallying after coming to power in May, 2014. This provoked the war veterans to start the agitation and it gained momentum with some of them started an indefinite fast at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi. Some of the fasting veterans were arrested on worsening health condition but they continued the fast even at the hospital. So the determination of the war veterans for the sustained struggle brought them the victory.Though there are certain dilutions from the principle of OROP, it is a welcome development indeed.

AIBDPA whole heartly congratulate the war veterans for this great achievement which is the result of their sustained and determined struggle.