BSNL to add one million lines by next year

HYDERABAD: State-run telecom operator BSNL will add one million lines through advanced generation switches technology by next year and will shortly finalise bids for the purpose, a senior company official said on Friday.

"We will add one million lines through next generation soft switches by next year. By 2015, all our existing switches will be converted to this latest technology which is prevalent in the world," BSNL (Planning and New Services) Director R K Aggarwal told reporters after the launch of 'Live Video Tutoring' and 'BSNL Hungama portal'-- two broadband value added services here.

The new generation switches technology will provide convergence of voice, video, multimedia content and data services apart messaging and location mail services, he said.

"Six bids have been received for the purpose. We have opened the bids and finalise on making the orders in about next one-and-a-half months," Aggarwal said.

The third-generation (3G) services will be rolled out in southern states in the next two-three months, he said, adding that it will be expanded to 750 cities nation-wide.

Five lakh poles will be set up by 2010 as a part of the fibre-to-home technology that enables much higher speed for broadband Internet service compared to the existing speed, Aggarwal said.