BSNL Extends Its Free Sunday Calling Scheme For Another 3 Months

The public-owned telecom operator was expected to shelve its free calling offer on 1 February.

BSNL still retains most of its customers in the landline segment. 

(Photo: Reuters)

Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) has decided to extend its free Sunday calling offer for landline customers.

The offer was reported to be discontinued from 1 February 2018, but after looking at the response and feedback from consumers, BSNL has extended its availability till 30 April.

With this offer, on Sundays, BSNL customers are able to make voice calls free of cost to any network/mobile across the country. The offer was first introduced in August 2016, and continues to be popular amongst the BSNL landline users, who can avail of this scheme without paying extra.

It’s interesting that while most telecom operators have switched their focus from wired telecom service to mobile network, BSNL continues to rule the roost with its existing landline legacy.

The public-owned telecom entity believes that with innovative plans like these, customers can save money on their mobile bills. It also encourages them to use landlines. The last reported customer base of BSNL shows the telecom operator having over 14.3 million customers, mostly centered in Tier II and III cities.

That said, their overall position in the mobile space has become relatively thin, with others like Reliance Jio, Airtel and Vodafone among others, holding the fort. BSNL has been pegged to launch its 4G service in the country in 2018, but their late entry into the segment could work against them, especially with how they plan to price their plans.

Also Read: Micromax Bharat-1 4G VoLTE Phone With BSNL Offers Unlimited Data

The telecom operator has tried its hands in the field by partnering with local brands like Micromax for 4G VoLTE device, but their appeal fizzles out the moment you see they’re depending on 3G connectivity support, even in 2018.

However, with the promise of setting nationwide Wi-Fi hotspots by 2019, BSNL could still gain its relevance in a mobile-heavy sector.