BSNL Plan Wireless Phones Using GSM

Government owned telecom service provider, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) has decided to roll out wireless in local loop (WLL) based fixed wireless telephone services using the GSM technology across the country.

BSNL has been offering fixed wireless telephone services using the CDMA technology until now, and has nearly two million subscribers

The company says that the decision to use GSM network is due to the cost advantage apart from the choice of cheaper phone terminals available when compared to CDMA.

BSNL sources say that the decision was taken to counter competition from Airtel, which has recently launched fixed wireless services on its pan-India GSM network.

The move also assumes significance in the light of recent announcement from the largest CDMA operator in the country, Reliance Communications, applying for a pan-India cellular license for GSM-based services. BSNL officials said that its existing CDMA network would continue to be functional.