Date:25/02/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/02/25/stories/2005022505610500.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Now, SMS tinkle to BSNL landline subscribers

By Our Staff Reporter

TIRUPATI, FEB. 24. In tune with the changing times, the Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), has taken the Short Messaging Service (SMS) route to provide value-added service to its fixed line customers.

Landline customers can henceforth get an SMS tinkle on their mobile phone (of any service provider) on the amount of bill during the first week of each month.

Apart from fault booking and getting details of pending bills, a customer can also obtain meter reading of landline phones by way of an SMS from the corresponding cell number at Tirupati, Chittoor and Madanapalle.

For this, they have to first register their mobile number with the BSNL's non-metered telephone number, 0877-222 4236, between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. on any working day. Details on the SMS pro forma and the mobile number to which the SMS has to be sent can be obtained from the office.

More towers

Announcing this here on Thursday, the General Manager of the Tirupati Telecom District, A. Subba Rao, claimed that the BSNL was ahead of others in the district in terms of connections, even while admitting that there were lot of complaints on line congestion.

To tide over the situation, forty new towers would be erected in the district and the capacity of the existing ones augmented to improve connectivity. Towers would be erected in Tirupati at TTD office, Chinna Bazar, Ramanuja Circle, Padmavathipuram, Balaji Colony, Tiruchanur, Mamandur Mitta (on Tirumala ghat road) and Tirumala.

Eyeing the twin benefits of expanding its mobile WLL base and also providing fixed line connections in the areas hitherto uncovered, the BSNL would set up WLL infrastructure in Bangarupalem, Madanapalle, Piler, Srikalahasti, Venkatagiri Kota, B. Kothakota, Palamaner, Demalcheruvu, Kalikiri, Satyavedu and Sodam. With this, villages located within 10-15 km of these centres would get new telephone connections.

Broadband service

A reconnection scheme was also announced for old customers, which comes along with a waiver of rental for the disconnected period.

The much-awaited broadband service would be introduced in Tirupati from next month, Mr. Rao said, adding that applications would be processed on first come, first served basis.