Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL), the state-run telecom operator has sent a press statement saying that the telco is planning to end its free voice calling benefits from wired broadband connections from on Sundays from February 1. This essentially means that the telco's customers will now be charged on Sundays for landline/combo/FTTH broadband plans similar to any weekdays. To recall, the offer was first introduced by BSNL on August 21, 2016.
As per the statement, BSNL will discontinue the benefits nationally, following a decision was taken by its management to curb free night calling benefits. The decision will apply to BSNL's both new as well as existing customers. We reported this news a couple of weeks back, but back then, there was no official confirmation regarding the same.
This development, however, is shared by BSNL's Kolkata unit, Calcutta Telephones (CalTel) Chief General Manager S P Tripathi. "BSNL is going to withdraw the free Sunday calling benefit from February 1. This will happen nationally. But, from Calcutta Telephones, we are working on some plans which I think will mitigate the impact for our customers," Tripathi was quoted as saying by the wire service.
The government-owned PSU already revised the night voice calling scheme in early-January after which free calling is offered from 10.30 PM instead of 9 PM. BSNL's free night voice calling is now applicable between 10:30 PM to 6:30 AM as opposed to the earlier 09:00 PM to 07:00 AM.
It is also said that the new plans are being sent to the BSNL headquarters for their approval.
BSNL has recently revised the entire 3G prepaid data recharge vouchers and has extended the validity period of some internet plans while also increasing the data offered on others. The extra validity and data for its prepaid customers will go a long way in attracting new customers and keeping the likes of Airtel and Jio at the bay.
