VIJAYAWADA: Customers of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited's (BSNL) broadband connections are able to enjoy the benefit of higher speeds of around 300 kbps as against the promised 256 kbps, according to BSNL officials.

Consequently, the customer satisfaction has risen and it is evident from more people preferring to get broadband connections, they say. DataOne, the brand name for high speed Internet broadband service offered by the BSNL, has received good response in the city and surrounding areas.

Ever since the broadband service was launched here in June 2005, nearly 3,500 connections had been released and they were working efficiently.

Buoyed by the penetration of Internet even among middle classes, BSNL officials have decided to pass on the benefits of broadband to more areas in the city. At present, the service is being offered in the city and Kankipadu, Ramavarappadu, Ibrahimpatnam and Kondapally areas on the outskirts. In coming days, broadband service will be extended to prospective customers residing in Gollapudi and Guntupalli areas.

Deputy General Manager (Urban) L. Sreenu said broadband customers were happy with the service and demand for it was perceived in the rural areas as well. In Machilipatnam and Gudivada, where broadband service was already provided, one hundred connections in each town were given to local customers there.

Mr. Sreenu said the BSNL's aim was to provide broadband service to customers in all the eight short distance charging area (SDCA) locations in the district.

These eight SDCA areas are: Nandigama, Jaggayyapet, Mylavaram, Kaikaluru, Vuyyur, Challapalli, Nuzvid and Tiruvuru.

Customer is `king'

In the last one year, the BSNL Krishna district got nearly Rs. 1 crore as revenue from broadband service even as officials laid emphasis on ensuring customer satisfaction.

In view of the competition from private providers, the BSNL began identifying new segments of customers for selling its product.

At Gudivada, an awareness camp was organised recently when a number of middle income group people enquired about the working of broadband connections. "People are happy with our service. They are able to access Internet very fast," Mr. Sreenu said.

However, Navy Commander (retd.) Krishna said that sometimes the speed was not satisfactory and shifting from one page to another would take more time.

The BSNL broadband found good takers among doctors, business people, IT firms and students.

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