BSNL to up Its Mobile Data Strength by Adding 600 TB in 30 Days

The state-owned telecom operator has massive plans to take on the private players like Jio and Airtel.

The public-owned telecom operator promises to match Jio’s tariff plans. (Photo: The Quint)

There’s a definite mood change in the Indian telecom space, ever since Reliance has bullishly entered the fray with Jio this year. And this has catapulted telecom players like Airtel, Vodafone and now, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) as well.

The state-owned telecom firm plans to ramp up its mobile broadband capacity by up to two-fold to 600 terrabyte in a month.

We are seeing enormous increase in usage of mobile data on our network. We will be increasing our data network capacity to deliver high-speed 3G and other services. In South, we will double the capacity to 600 TB and in other zones, it will be up to 450 TB by November.

<i>Anupam Shrivastava, Chairman and Managing Director, BSNL</i>

The loss-making state-run telecom firm did not participate in the spectrum auction and is making efforts to monetise its existing mobile airwaves.

Shrivastava said the recently-launched unlimited 3G scheme for Rs 1,099 is one of the key reasons for the increase in demand for mobile data on BSNL network.

The plan offers unlimited access to 3G without any speed restriction for a period of 30 days.

In 2012, data usage on BSNL network was around 80 TB.

“After the recent unlimited 3G Internet scheme, we have seen a sudden jump in data usage. In July, it was around 279 TB, which has now gone up to 353 TB," Shrivastava said.

He said that average data download per customer under the plan has been around 2.2 GB, which means 66 GB per customer in a month. This corresponds to storing of around 100 Bollywood movies in a month in medium resolution on smartphones.

On the other hand, at a price of around Rs 1,100, private telecom operators’ data download limit is in the range of 7GB to 11 GB.

New entrant Reliance Jio is offering unlimited 4G data free till the end of this year. From 1 January, the company will offer unlimited 4G data at starting price of Rs 19, but it is worth noting that the 'unlimited' 4G usage is limited only to night hours.

(With agency inputs)