BSNL AP Selfcare through USSD Introduction of new features

Introduction of new features in Selfcare through USSD for
 Prepaid mobile services
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BSNL AP Circle has introduced new selfcare features through USSD under prepaid
mobile services. Details are as given below:
USSD OPTIONS OPERATION OPTIONS OPERATION
*123# nil enquiry
To know balance,validity
and plan
*124*2# nil enquiry nil
To know balance of Data
& SMS
*124# 1 Balance nil balance enquiry
 2 Recharge 1 Scratch card Refill
 2 Third Party Recharge
 9 go back
 0 exit
 3 STV 1 Bundle Enquiry stvs balance
 2 Bundle subscribe
 9 go back
 0 exit
 4 FNF 1 FnF View
 2 FnF Add one number at a time
 3 FnF Modify
 4 Pyari Jodi Add bandham
 5 paramilatary Jodi Add jaijawan
 9 go back
 0 exit
 5 Tarif Plan 1 Current Tariff Plan
 2 Tariff plan Change
 9 go back
 0 exit
 6 Modify Pin Change of default Pin for balance transfer
 7
Language
Selection 1 ENGLISH
 2 HINDI
 3 TAMIL
 4 MALAYALAM
 5 KANNADA
 6 TELUGU
 8
View Last 5
calls We cal view last 5 calls
 9 View last cal We can view last one call
 0 Exit

 For any details, Dial “ 1503” Customer Care please.

BSNL to setup public WiFi hotspot in South zone with speed up to 10 Mbps

BSNL has awarded contract to QuadGen Wireless Solutions Pvt Ltd for setting up and operate Wi- Fi hot spots at public places in South zone. The states of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Kerala would benefit from this project. The project will be on a revenue sharing basis between BSNL and QuadGen Wireless Solutions. We were able to obtain detailed information on terms of the contract.

BSNL mobile customers would be able to access these public WiFi network to offload their data. Customers can also purchase prepaid vouchers to access the WiFi hotspots. They can also recharge their WiFi accounts online. BSNL also announced that special tariff plans for BSNL post paid Broadband customers will be announced were customer can use broadband from Wi-Fi hotspots on payment of monthly fees.

BSNL has categorized WiFi hotspot into following 3 types

• Small Hotspot: Cafe, Lounge, Food court etc, - 2 Mbps(dedicated)
• Mid Size Hotspot: Malls, IT Parks, Resorts, Hospitals etc – 4 Mbps(dedicated)
• Large Hotspot: Campus, Very large mall, uncovered broadband semi urban/rural areas – 10 Mbps(dedicated)

Important terms of contract

• Retail hotspots across India shall be created by tying up with various retail outlets.
• BSNL will provide the bandwidth on best effort basis for a Hotspot location premises.
• Set up call Center for dealing with customer requests/complaints and also extend mechanism for Web support.
• BSNL shall use its sales channel for distribution of vouchers/recharge coupons to avail wi-fi hot spot services.
• Bidder shall maintain the branding of BSNL throughout while they will be availing the services.
• For Project-1 (South Zone) revenue share for BSNL is 34%.
• Duration of contract is 5 years from the date of Launch of service from the first hot spot location.
• Status report shall be sent on 31-03-2015 or Roll out of Hotspot services at 25 locations in the zone, whichever is earlier.

Roll-out obligation and Performance SLA

BSNL has put forward strict roll-out obligation for QuadGen Wireless Solutions to meet. This include launch of Hot Spot within 3 months from the date of place of Work Order. Also BSNL want QuadGen to meet revenue target of Rs 50 lahks for year 2 and Rs 1 core for year 3 in each zone. Failure to meet the target would lead to compensate BSNL for the shortfall in BSNL revenue share.

BSNL has also put forward strict performance and SLA targets. Acceptable downtime for hotspot is less than 30min per day and service should be activated within 4 hours. Minimum download speed should be measured for each plan and reported to TRAI.

BSNL trying to compete with private WiFi operators?

Recently Airtel and Reliance Jio announced their plans to start public WiFi hotspots across the country in connection with their 4G service. These moves were aimed at upcoming data revolution in India. BSNL is trying to compete with private operators with its own public WiFi service.

Anupam Shrivastava appointed BSNL CMD

BSNL has announced the appointment of Mr. Anupam Shrivastava as the new CMD after the candidacy being approved by the Appointments Committee of the cabinet. Shrivastava was earlier heading the Consumer Mobility division of the telco.

Anupam Shrivastava was appointed as director of BSNL way back in 2013 but the recommendation was held back by the then Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal who extended RK Upadhyay’s term till June 30. The government further delayed appointing head of BSNL as it was making headlines due to the huge loss it was incurring. Currently Director Enterprises AN Rai is handling the additional charge of the CMD.

It will be a challenging task for Mr. Srivastava as he will be responsible for the NOFN(National Optical Fibre Network) project which is going at snail pace. Only 6% of the cable laying work has been completed whereas the entire project was given a realistic deadline this year and now it has been extended to December 2016. Mr. Srivastava will also have to devise strategies and turn the state run telecom company into a profit-making one.

Karnataka High Court directs BSNL to advertise new DND regulations

The Karnataka High Court has asked the Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) to advertise the new regulations introduced by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI). On December 1st 2010, TRAI took a step forward to curb unsolicited commercial communications to Indian consumers from telemarketers using medium such as voice or Short Messaging Service (SMS). The regulation mandates telemarketers to register with TRAI in order to facilitate scrubbing of Do Not Call Registered numbers in India.

Justice S Abdul Nazeer directed BSNL to submit an action taken report and adjourned the next hearing to February 4. A petition was filed before the court after BSNL failed to attend to petitioner’s 400 complaints about receiving over 600 unsolicited commercial messages on his BSNL mobile phone number.

The petitioner, Mohammed Dastagir contended that the messages were invading his privacy and causing mental agony to him. He had contended that he had received over 600 messages since 2010 despite writing to BSNL to put his number under DND (do not disturb) category. However, repeated complaints had not resulted in any action and the BSNL failed to submit the action taken report.

The principal general manager of BSNL who was present before the court submitted that the 600 messages have reduced to 14 messages.