BSNL plans VoIP broadband services in Pune

PUNE: The telephone woes of consumers may come to an end if BSNL gets the nod from New Delhi to roll out its VOIP network in Pune. This network offers lowest STD rates compared to normal lines. The telecom behemoth has tested waters in Pune by providing such pre-paid cards to 500 users and the response has been encouraging, BSNL officials maintained.

VOIP is just one of the many tele-bonanzas lined up for the city. Next on the agenda is expansion of its dedicated WLL network. Beginning next week, 15,000 new WLL connections would be provided in the city, covering four short-distance charging areas (SDCA’s) — Pune, Loni, Khadakwasla and PCMC.

BSNL has tied up with Hyundai for the supply of handsets, for which a refundable deposit of Rs 5,000 would be taken. In the second phase, the company would cover 13 more SDCAs around Pune with 30,000 connections. While new subscribers will have to pay an installment of Rs 2,400, existing landline users can avail of WLL without any extra cost, officials revealed.

The WLL plans will be followed by a broadband service for which BSNL has tied up with a Bangalore based firm called iSpatial. Pune along with Kolkota, and Bangalore is one of the three Indian cities where BSNL would be starting this service. iSpatial would use BSNL’s infrastructure and the service would be provided on a revenue-sharing arrangement, officials said. The tariff and revenue-sharing arrangement formula are yet to be decided.

Tariff structuring of the service is crucial as the company is planning to offer virtual private network (VPN) facilities in the initial phase. While high-speed Internet connection and video-on-demand would catch the fancy of the average consumer, VPN is mainly aimed at business houses. The second phase would see the introduction of four points of presence or access points and a super point of presence in the city for the service.