Visakhapatnam: In order to increase customer base, the state-owned telecom provider BSNL is expanding its number of 3G sites and WiFi hotspots across the country. As a part of this, it has planned 23 WiFi sites and 50 MDOL (mobile data off load) sites in Visakhapatnam district during this fiscal.
Out of these, BSNL has commissioned five WiFi hotspots at Achyutapuram, Paderu, Ananthagiri, Tallapalem and Munchingput.
This year, the public sector telecom major has planned to expand 3G network at 45 sites in urban areas and enhance 2G network at 15 sites in rural areas of Visakhapatnam under 8.4 mobile network expansion project. It has already identified Paderu, Araku, Chintapalli and Narsipatnam to expand its 3G network.
BSNL is waiting for the approvals to launch 4G network in the district. The company still claims to offer better internet speed when compared to private 4G operators.
“BSNL 3G network service offers a download speed of more than 21.6 mbps, while private 4G network service providers are offering download speed of around 18 mbps,” Visakhapatnam Telecom District principal general manager Nalini Verma said while speaking to media on the occasion of 18th BSNL Formation Day on Tuesday.
She further said, “In spite of competition from private players, BSNL has increased its market share to 18.84 per cent this year from 18.6 per cent during last fiscal. In Visakhapatnam alone, the number of users increased to 7.68 lakh this year from 7.4 lakh last year. Better coverage, competitive tariff and good internet speed are the main reasons for the continuous growth in the customer base.”
According to Verma, Visakhapatnam Telecom District stands fourth among 68 telecom districts of BSNL that generate above Rs. 100-crore revenue per year, next only to Jalandhar, Ahmedabad and Nashik. Vizag made a revenue of more than Rs. 80 crore in the first six months of this fiscal.
