Dig, dig, dig: BCC, BSNL caught in cable war

Dig, dig, dig: BCC, BSNL caught in cable war
The Times of India

Bangalore: If you thought potholes are the only problems that BCC is dealing with, here is another story on how it’s charging a fee of Rs 10,000 for each hole that BSNL digs for underground cabling.

BCC has started charging the amount from agencies since two months. Since BSNL is yet to pay the sum, work has come to a standstill — no new cables have been laid and the growth for BSNL in the past quarter has been steadily falling.

Now, with the onset of monsoon, there is complete ban on digging and whatever work was in progress before the new fees were levied, has come to a halt till November. In the underground cable-digging system, 2-3 holes are dug for every kilometre. Called hand-holes, they enable drilling to be done underground instead of cutting up the whole length of the road and then re-instating it.

BCC officials say the amount to be paid to BCC hasn’t been sanctioned by the BSNL finance department. But BSNL officials say the total amount is not clearly mentioned. “They sent us a letter saying it’s a few hundreds for each hole and then another letter saying it is Rs 10,000 for each hole. Till now, there is no clarity, only letters are shuttling back and forth.”

Pvt players make hay: This has led to new revenue opportunities for private operators like Reliance and Tata Indicom who offer landline with
wireless connectivity — in areas where there is no copper or fibre optic cable.

But the bad news is that fixed wireless connections (not the cellular type) are no good for data connectivity nor is the signal consistent all the time. Says R. Mohan, owner of a service station in Jayanagar: “Since we are on a waiting list for a BSNL landline with dial-up connectivity, we
had taken the Reliance fixed wireless
connection which has internet connectivity too. But once it is activated
in your drawing room, it cannot be
used in the study where my computer is placed. The signals get locked onto one base station and the connection does not work even if you move three feet away. We have made several calls, but this has not been rectified.” According to Reliance officials, the TRAI regulations make it mandatory to lock signals to one base station. “Fixed wireless is not to be used as a mobile phone and shifted from one place to another — that is why it does not work from one room to another if the signals are locked to one tower,” they maintain.
But the point here is if you do not place your phone and the computer at one place, your data connectivity goes for a spin.
The story is the same for other private players too. “Private operators offer wireless landline connections through their franchisees and associates but once the form is filled up, it takes a long time to get the connection. They tell you to call up the control service number but service is poor,” says Helmuth Hoenigmann, who works as a consultant to NGOs.

LANDLINE LINKS

•Copper lines (with internet): BSNL, Airtel, Reliance, Tata

•Wireless in local loop (with no internet): BSNL

•Wireless in local loop (with internet): Reliance and Tata Indicom.