BSNL has decided to withdraw rent-free landline connections provided to customers with an average monthly rental less than Rs. 500 across all the circles. As per the latest instructions, BSNL will convert all these rent-free connections with an average monthly rental (average of last six months) less than Rs. 500 to Sulabh Plan from the 1st of October 2015 onwards.
Back in 2006, BSNL provided one rent-free landline (b-fone) connection to prospective customers of BSNL landline services. BSNL offered one additional landline connection for free of cost to customers whose average monthly bill (average of last six months) was Rs. 1500 or more per connection. Later in 2008, the PSU revised the eligibility condition of average monthly rental (average of last six months) from Rs. 1500 to Rs. 500 per month for all existing customers across India.
Existing customers whose average monthly rental is less than the eligibility condition are advised to change their plan to Sulabh Plan or disconnect the rent-free landline after completing one year. There are a very large number of rent-free landline telephone connections that are still working in various telecom circles. So, BSNL has issued instructions to all telecom circles to review the status of rent-free landline connections provided earlier to Commercially Important Customers (CICs)/Corporate/General Customers.
The official instruction from BSNL to telecom circles read as follows; "It will be ensured that every year review must be carried out and if average bill of last six months is less than Rs 500/- then, fixed rental of Sulabh Plan should be charged or b-fone connection should be disconnected after completion of one year as per choice of the customer.” BSNL has also directed all its circles to inform all its free users about the changes to avoid circumstances related to non-paying issue or protest.
