Landmarks get new names

Landmarks get new names
Times of India

Bangalore: Bangalore’s roads have been rechristened — at least on those mobile phones loaded with BSNL SIM cards, and with Global Positioning System (GPS).

For instance, travel on the stretch from Anil Kumble Circle to Manipal Centre, and the mobile phone flashes ‘The Times of India’, move around Bannerghatta Road, close to the Infosys office, and your handset will read ‘Infosys Circle’.

Almost reaching the cusp in parts of Karnataka, BSNL is now spreading its net across the city to capture the huge market of mobile-users. “We are looking to better our mobile service quality in Bangalore, where our subscriber base is low. Stronger signals, reduction in congestion and lowering the drop call rate are on the agenda. Step one is to increase the number of base transmitting stations (BTS) in the city,’’ said N. Chandrashekara, BSNL general manager (mobile services).

Long stretches of Bangalore roads have been cut into pieces and allotted BTS which will individually monitor the call volume, drop call rate, mean holding time (time taken for a call to connect) and the signals. “We will then identify the weak corners and strong points,’’ added Chandrashekara. So if there is an Infosys Circle, there is also ‘Astra Zeneca’ that pops on the handset after Yelahanka, and ‘Volvo’ after Hoskote. By this year-end, BSNL will add 30 BTS in the city and 750 more in Karnataka by coming March.

The number of BSNL subscribers has gone up, with recent figures standing at almost 6 lakh — 1,14,623 postpaid subscribers and 4,83,105 pre-paid subscribers. It may be time to pop open the champagne bottles but Chandrashekara acknowledges, “We have a long way to go. There is still some congestion. Bangalore’s terrain not being flat like Chennai, the challenge is double. But a considerable increase in BT stations will improve service.’’