BSNL is expected to launch major modernization drive pan-India investing Rs. 2000 crore with a major focus on expansion of 3G network. As per reports, BSNL will be installing 21,000 new Base Transceiver Stations (BTS), out of which 13,000 BTS would be installed for 3G services in rural areas.
Value Added Services (VAS) would be implemented pan-India. Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad had recently raised concerns over many people not aware of free nation-wide night calling service being offered by BSNL.
Reports further state that a new technology called Fixed Mobile Telephony (FMT) would be implemented while free wifi hotspots with 3G services would be installed across all historic, religious monuments.
Ravi Shankar Prasad has also asked BSNL to step out of the office and work harder for expanding its customer base. Speaking at a recent event by BSNL, the Telecom Minister said, "I am even ready to sit and sell sims for BSNL"
Prasad was quoted as saying, "In around April, BSNL was selling 7-8 lakh sim (cards) and in January- March, BSNL started selling 20 lakh sim. I am told BSNL has 70 lakh customers. I would like to see this customer base to grow 1 crore net in 2016-17."
He further said, "If BSNL can market its product with right strategy, I am sure we will see same kind of revolution in landline segment as we have seen in mobile telephony." Agreeing over Ravi Shankar Prasad's concerns, Telecom Secretary JS Deepak said that BSNL is utilising only 70 per cent of its network capacity.