Gujarat riots delay BSNL mobile launch

hubli: the bharat sanchar nigam limited (bsnl), which was supposed to go `mobile'' by the month-end, has run into another hurdle. this time, the delay is directly related to the communal frenzy in gujarat, which refuses to die down. the much-hyped mobile telephone services of the bsnl were supposedly a new year gift for hubli-dharwad, but have been dragged to april.as bsnl''s luck would have it, its order for towers placed with a private company in gujarat could not be delivered because riots began. the launch was grounded, or the telecommunication giant would by now have locked horns with private mobile telephone companies in the twin-cities and belgaum. a source in bsnl told the times of india that the new infrastructure to be set up for the new services is in the process of completion. the company is likely to test-launch their services by may-end, but the commercial launch will have to wait for another two months. the initial delay was due to negotiations re-started by the union telecommunication ministry. all the other equipment for setting up the infrastructure has reached hubli and also been commissioned. the contract is being taken up by motorola. only telephone exchanges, power supply systems, air-conditioners and a few towers will be utilised from the existing infrastructure. the bsnl needs 10 more towers, which are an essential component of the infrastructure for the mobile telephone system, and are manufactured only in gujarat and punjab. bsnl had placed its order with a company in gujarat. a team of engineers has already completed the survey work. when compared to other mobile services, bsnl wants to provide a ``total reach'''' facility in the region, and is set to target 10,000 customers in the region. the reach will range from belgaum to bangalore, covering the entire district headquarters along the national highways, where it includes belgaum, gadag, haveri, ranebennur, harihar, chitradurga, davanagere, tumkur and a few taluks too. itc a hit with students the virtual card calling service, branded as the indian telephone card (itc), is slowly catching on in hubli-dharwad. a bsnl source revealed that the itc has become attractive for those who pay around rs 20,000 in telephone bills. ``by utilising itc, they are hoodwinking the tax authorities.'''' others who find the itc attractive are corporate offices, multinationals and those who are on the move and who do not own telephones. in hubli-dharwad, students are finding it handy. the bsnl has provided a telephone at sdm college and kims for the convenience of students using such cards. ``women staying in hostels are now opting for itc so they can make std calls from the telephone provided at the hostel building.'''' the bsnl is now gearing itself to market the cards aggressively __ agents will be appointed and a 5 per cent commission paid. itcs are available in the denominations of rs 105, rs 210, rs 525, rs 1050, rs 2100 and rs 5250.