Faced with the 4G challenge, telecom major Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited will focus on improving its services by launching high speed WiFi hotspots in the city and select places in rural Prakasam with high business potential.
“Equipment has already reached for setting up 10 WiFi hotspots in the identified sites in the first phase right away with more than 4G speed,” said BSNL Prakasam general manager B. Chandrasena. As many as 40 WiFi hotspots would be set up with focus on the places having high 3G traffic.
“A majority of the selected sites are in rural exchanges. WiFi hotspots are presently available at the busy Church Centre, Anjaiah Road, Rangarayuduchervu, Martur and Tripurantakam,” she said.
Extension plans
“Those having broadband connections can use data on their mobile phones at the WiFi hotspots with their broadband ID,” she explained. Efforts were on to extend the service in the busy bus station and railway station here as well, she added.
She said BSNL with 273 2G and 117 3G sites covered the entire district but for a few pockets in the Nallamalla forests where setting up of optical fibre cable network or radio links were ruled out in view of the hilly terrain. All mandal headquarters irrespective of the traffic potential were provided with 3G towers as part of its social commitment.
“We will add 40 3G sites in identified places in the city and also in villages other than mandal headquarters with high traffic potential,” she said, adding with this, coverage problem because of high rise buildings in the city would be a thing of the past.
With a monthly rent of just ₹49, new as well as old customers could go for landline connections and enjoy free calling at night time and Sundays for an year, she added.