Elders concerned over cost of landline calls

Elders in Rajya Sabha expressed concern over how basic telephony was getting costlier with the pulse rate for fixed lines changing from 180 ...

Elders in Rajya Sabha expressed concern over how basic telephony was getting costlier with the pulse rate for fixed lines changing from 180 seconds to 60 seconds and less. Rates for calls made from a fixed line to a cellular has also gone up, they complained. Sanjay Nirupam of Shiv Sena raised the issue, demanding that TRAI be given directions to change this rate as it was ‘‘against public interest’’.

Telecom Minister Arun Shourie explained that there was no provision for the Centre to give directions to TRAI but he would request the regulatory body to consider the matter.

Members also alleged that over 31 lakh subscribers of the state-owned Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited have surrendered their connections in the past two years owing to various reasons, including compulsory filing of IT returns. Most of them have switched to cellular and WLL phones, they said. To a written question as to whether a substantial number of subscribers was opting out of BSNL’s basic services, Minister of State for Communication Sumitra Mahajan said: ‘‘Subscribers are not opting out of the services. But there are 13.44 lakh disconnections or surrenders of telephones during 2001-02 and 17.94 lakh in 2002-03 due to various reasons.’’

Story continues below this ad

Mahajan said market research agencies were being hired for a study of disconnections and surrenders of telephone. According to the government, more than 73 lakh subscribers of rural and urban areas have been added to the BSNL’s basic services network during the past two years. ‘‘In fact, BSNL has become the second largest service provider in the country and the e-seva service in Andhra Pradesh is working very well,’’ said Shourie.

Of the new connections by BSNL (73.08 lakh), more than half are in rural areas, 27.46 lakh in urban areas, and 2.58 lakh in the metros, Mahajan said.