Telecom operator BSNL has announced unlimited free calling scheme from its fixed line phones to any operator including mobiles from May 1 in order to boost its landline business.
BSNL which dominates the Indian market with 62.26 per cent share has launched the scheme after losing nearly 162,556 landline customers in February this year according to a report. The telecom operator stated that the scheme would be operational between 9 PM to 7 AM and would cover all mobile and landline operators in urban and rural as well.
According to the latest TRAI data, BSNL lost the biggest share of fixed-line customers in February while Airtel emerged as top gainer. The operator had over 1.66 crore landlines at the end of February.
"BSNL has introduced unlimited free calling during night hours from its landline phones to all landline phones and mobile phones of all service provider's network on all India basis from 1st May," BSNL said.
Earlier in March, the state run telecom operator had announced that its 8th phase expansion plans will help reduce 3G costs by fifty percent. The operator in currently working on its 7th expansion plans which will conclude by June this year. Its next expansion phase includes setting up WiFi hotspots in 2,500 cities by the end of next year.
BSNL Chairman and Managing Director Anupam Shrivastav was quoted as saying, "We estimate that 3G data rates can be reduced by at least 50 per cent compared to prevailing rates under phase 8 of our network expansion."
Source: ET