New Delhi, 2nd May ’2011: With a vision that brings leadership of a seasoned telecom technocrat, Shri R K Upadhyay, CMD, TCIL took over the charge as Chairman and Managing Director, BSNL, the largest telecom operator in the country on 30th April, 2011.

Shri Rakesh Kumar Upadhyay is an officer of 1975 Batch of Indian Telecom Services. He obtained B.Tech (Electronics) Degree from I.T. Banaras Hindu University in 1974 and MBA (Marketing Management) degree from Indira Gandhi Open University. He is also a graduate of
Defence Staff Services College (DSSC) Wellington and was awarded M.Sc (D.S.) Degree by Madras University. He has successfully worked in Department of Telecommunications from August 1975 to July 1996 in the areas of Planning, Installation and Commissioning, Commercial administration and operations. While on deputation to TCIL during October 1996 to August 1999, he successfully worked in the foreign projects as Project Director, Sana’a and General Manager, Yemen.

After a stint from Jan.’2000 to Jun.’2003 in BSNL as General Manager Jammu & Kashmir Telecom Circle he joined TCIL again on deputation in June 2003. After joining TCIL, he successfully worked as a Chief Project Director, Algeria, Group General Manager (New Technology) and Executive Director (Project Monitoring) and other important assignments. He has got rich experience in the fields of Planning, Projects, Operation and Business Development. He took the charge of Director (Projects) w.e.f. 1st Nov.’2005 and subsequently took the charge of Chairman and Managing Director on 1st March 2007

Commenting on his joining, Shri R K Upadhyay , CMD, BSNL, said “After a good old journey of more than three decades in the telecom industry, I am privileged and humbled to take the responsibilities of BSNL. A great challenge lies ahead of us and I am sure we will meet every challenge with determination”.

Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) announced that its 3G the next generation mobile service is now available in more than 241 cities in the North, East and South Zone.

However in West Zone and some more cities; BSNL 3G network and service is available without the commercial launch. According to the BSNL, the network up-gradation work is going on in full swing across India to accommodate every one in the next generation mobile network. The 3G services brings high quality voice services along with high speed data and video services.

Creating a paradigm shift in the digital communications, BSNL recently launched 3G service in India. By making 3G services affordable with lowest Voice call and Video call charges as well as High Speed 3G Wireless Broadband Data connectivity at 1 paisa for 10KB in India.  BSNL also indulge in facilitating socio-economic development of the masses through applications such as Telemedicine, e-education and e-governance. 3G is an enabler for India  to meet its target of 20 million broadband subscribers by 2010.

System integration company Teracom recently said it has bagged a Rs 40 crore order from Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) for supply of 3G data cards supporting data speeds of 3.6 to 7.2 Mbps.

“Teracom has bagged an order of Rs 40 crore and has been declared the winner of an open tender for providing the 3G data card to BSNL. The total quantity will be 2.25 lakh for USB (dongle type) data cards,” the company said in a statement.

Teracom’s R&D team has developed the high speed, advanced 3G data cards at an extremely low-cost, the statement said.  We are at a very advanced stage to supply these dongles to other telecom operators too, Puneet Jain, senior vice president (corporate business) of Teracom said.

BSNL introduces 49 paisa per minute

All local and STD calls and SMS will be charged 49 paisa per minute for a STV special tariff Voucher All @ 49

Offer valid for one month from 1 november 2009

The state-owned telecom operator Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) will cover all urban areas in the northeastern region through its third generation (3G) platform, a next generation mobile communications systems, company officials have said.

“For rural areas, WiMAX and WLL EVDO (wireless broadband services) would be introduced very shortly, these services are also more or less similar to 3G,” said BSNL general manager of operations Deb Kumar Chakraborty.

He was addressing reporters in Agartala during the launch of a set of 3G standards defined by the International Telecommunication Union in Tripura and Meghalaya simultaneously Saturday evening.

“BSNL has planned to cover 751 cities by the 3G services by March. The next generation mobile communications systems so far have been launched in 113 cities, including Guwahati and Gangtok,” Chakraborty said.

BSNL, the world’s seventh largest telecom operator, is the first company along with the other state-owned operator, Mahanagar Telecom Nigam Ltd (MTNL), to launch 3G services in India.

“3G services are not merely targeted at the elite class, but everyone. The tariff is affordable. Subscribers can make a local video call at Rs 1.50 per minute and long distance video call at Rs 2.50 per minute. Data access rate is only 1 paisa per 10 kilobyte,” Chakraborty added.

Addressing reporters in Shillong, BSNL chief general manager Vinod Kumar said the 3G mobile services would be provided for both postpaid and prepaid categories.

“3G telephony would help enhance efficiency in e-governance and competitiveness in the information technology and BPO segments,” Kumar said.

Tripura Industries and Commerce Minister Jitendra Chowdhury said at the 3G launch in Agartala that the service would facilitate economic growth and help the government to provide better services to the people.

source: tech2

BSNL launches “Power User Pack”: Broadband + EVDO Combo Offer in bangalore

Plan description

This plan is the existing EVDO tariff plan with some modifications. The subscriber will receive a discount on the EVDO monthly fixed charges upon bundling the card with a broadband connection. This discount will be valid for a period of one year from activation.

Customer benefits

• Customer receives a backup to the existing broadband connection
• EVDO service will provide mobility within Bangalore

BHUBANESWAR: All the casual and contract workers of PSU telecom major BSNL have decided to go on a day’s protest in the State on October 28 resenting the anti-worker policy of the management.

There are over one lakh such workers engaged with BSNL across India. The Centre had recommended social security measures for casual and contract workers through its Contract Regulation Act in which minimum wage was clearly stipulated. However, the measure has not yet been executed.

According to president of BSNL Casual and Contract Workers Federation, VAN Namboodiri, the BSNL Employees Union has been seeking a wage revision for the casual and contract employees for long. In August, they had gone on a two-day strike over the demand for the wage revision which is pending since January 1, 2007.

Besides there are demands for employees provident fund and insurance.

Namboodiri said unless the management pays heed to their demands, the employees as well as workers will be forced to take to direct action.

The unions of all employees and workers, as a first move, would participate in the day-long protest on October 28 by the central trade unions against price rise, anti-worker policy and other problems of sector.

BSNL gives INR849m telecom upgrade contract to ITI

Deal will see operator able to offer full nationwide CDMA roaming.

Special Tariff Voucher (STV) for “One Sec pulse” under 2G prepaid cellular Service

2. All other terms and conditions of the main plan will remain same.

3. The above tariff will be effective with effect from 15.10.2009 .

CHANDIGARH:  Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) has created a Combined Users Group (CUG) / Virtual Private Network (VPN) for landline and mobile phone numbers sent to them by the various Departments, Boards and Corporations of Haryana.

As per a letter issued by the Chief Secretary, Haryana, the details of the telephone numbers already put in CUG / VPN by BSNL is available at website- http://www.haryana.gov.in and http://csharyana.gov.in.

For dialing any landline number (local or STD) within CUG / VPN, one will have to dial #1+STD Code (excluding zero) + landline number. In order to dial 0172-2740001 from Chandigarh or Haryana, one will have to dial as #11722740001 and for dialing 0124-2321321 from Gurgaon or Chandigarh, one will have to dial as #11242321321. For dialing any mobile number (local or STD) within CUG / VPN, one will have to dial #1+ Mobile Number (excluding prefix zero). In order to dial 09417012345 (Punjab Circle Number) from Chandigarh or Haryana, one will have to dial as #19417012345 and for dialing 09416012345 (Haryana Circle Number) from Chandigarh or Haryana, one will have to dial #19416012345.

For a Chandigarh landline and Mobile Number 0172-2740235/ 94170-52354 other VPN group members will dial as: if the VPN member makes an O/G call from NT Exchange (OCB-283,EWSD & 5ESS) to above noted Chandigarh Number he may dial #11722740235 for this landline number and #194170-52354 for said mobile number. If the O/G call is made from E-10-B/C-DOT Exchange, he will dial 180118011722740235 for above noted landline number and for mobile number 180118019417052354.

The CUG and VPN have been created with a view to bringing about reduction in telephone bills of the Government, as all the calls within CUG/VPN shall be free of cost. It may be noted that in case the landline or mobile numbers within CUG/VPN is dialed with old procedure, the same will be charged.