JAIPUR: The public sector Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) has outdone its rivals in the private sector in cellular mobile services by emerging as No. One in the Rajasthan circle in the New Year. Compared to 8.7 lakh BSNL mobile customers in the State, the number of subscribers of its nearest rival, Airtel, is 8.29 lakhs.

Giving this information to media persons here on Wednesday, BSNL Principal General Manager (Jaipur district) P. K. Saha said that as on December 31, 2005, BSNL stood in the first position in mobile services. In Jaipur district BSNL has 1.62 lakh mobile customers, he informed.

The district has a teledensity (all types of connections included) of 44.47 per thousand population. In the capital and in some of the rural areas telephone is available on demand.

"The popularity of landline connections is declining and we have introduced various schemes to make it more attractive to subscribers.

The recent reduction in rentals from Rs.250 to Rs.180 in Jaipur city and from Rs.210 to Rs.150 in the rural areas of the district has been part of this exercise," Mr. Saha pointed out. BSNL proposed to erect 150 new towers in order to ease the congestion in the peak hour traffic time. There is also a plan to take 2.10 lakh existing lines underground, he informed.

Talking about the public response to the new services of BSNL Mr. Saha said the New Cell One plan for the Government employees offering a monthly rent of Rs.100 was well received. As many as 17528 connections were booked in the scheme which ended on December 29, 2005, he said. BSNL has already introduced GSM Mobile PCO while Pre-paid Excel Top Up recharge coupons were on the anvil, he informed.

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