Next revamp of BSNL is to be held in Odisha, where the state-run operator will spend Rs. 830 crore to improve mobile services.
According to Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, Rs. 830 crore is exclusively allotted for BSNL Odisha, for multiple projects including Rs. 400 crores National Optical Fibre Cable (NOFN). Prasad was inaugurating Wi-Fi hotspot created by BSNL at Lord Jagannath Temple, a project to provide Wi-Fi service at historical places.
At the temple, Wi-Fi will be available for free for 30 minutes per 24 hours, limited to three times a month. Visitors can utilize the service in multiple sessions. After the free usage, customers can pay for the service at various subscription plans, ranging from Rs. 30 (30 minutes), Rs. 50 (60 minutes), Rs. 90 (120 minutes) to Rs. 150 (for one day).
Wi-Fi project at historical places already exists in Odisha at Sun Temple, Konark. The place also has a new BSNL building, which the Minister inaugurated on the same day.
“BSNL will soon replace its 30 years old switching technology to Next Generation Network (NGN) technology,” said Ravi Shankar Prasad. BSNL plans to commission 372 2G mobile sites and 193 3G BTS (mobile towers). Under the NOFN project, BSNL has plans to cover 3,369 village panchayats in 167 blocks this fiscal.
