BSNL increases data upto two-fold to counter Jio

Adapting to rival private players, state-owned telecom firm BSNL plans to increase its mobile broadband capacity by up to two-fold to 600 terabyte 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,” BSNL Chairman and MD Anupam Shrivastava said.

The loss-making state-run telecom firm did not take an interest in the range sell off and is making endeavors to monetise its current mobile airwaves. Shrivastava said the as of late propelled unlimited 3G scheme for Rs 1,099 is one of the key explanations behind increase in demand for mobile data on BSNL network. The arrangement offers unlimited access to 3G with no speed restriction for a time of 30 days.

“In 2012, data usage on BSNL network was around 80 TB. After recent unlimited 3G Internet scheme we have seen 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 putting forth unlimited 4G data free till the end of this current year. From January 1, the organization will offer unlimited 4G data at beginning cost of Rs 19 yet the "unlimited" 4G utilization will stay legitimate amid night hours.

Shrivastava said that BSNL is ready to compete with any telecom operator in the market. “…we will match any tariff in the market. It will be as competitive as any of the players in the market. We are already offering 300 GB of data usage for Rs 249 per month on fixed broadband connection. It is valid for six months and no other operator has been able to match it,” Shrivastava said.