ELURU : In a bid to retain its landline connection base under threat from private companies, the BSNL is on the luring-spree in West Godavari district.

The BSNL has introduced a slew of schemes intending to attract the landline subscribers in the district. According to the telecom district manager L. Anantram, the customers who register for landline connections during the `Raksha Bandhan' season from August 7 to 28, will be given IT (India Telecom) cards worth Rs 500. The BSNL has offered another scheme, `Excel Power', under which BSNL's cellular customers can select two numbers in the BSNL network of AP and make calls to these numbers at 10 paise per minute. Of the two numbers, one should be from the BSNL landline network.

Limit bills

Besides, BSNL extended `call-budgeting' facility in Eluru and Bhimavaram short distance charging areas (SDCAs). The facility could help landline customers limit their bill amount by giving information in the prescribed format before the beginning of the month. After the prescribed limit was exceeded, the outgoing calls would not mature, Mr. Ananthram explained. Similarly, a toll-free service was introduced for BSNL landline customers falling under the Eluru, Tadepalligudem and Tanuku SDCAs. The customers could know the meter reading pertaining to their call units by dialing 1669, the GM added.

Mobile threat

Meanwhile, the entry of Tata and Reliance is said to be cutting into the landline base of BSNL in Eluru and Tadepalligudem areas. Forays of private companies results in a drop in the number of BSNL landline connections. Mr. Ravikumar Bunga, deputy general manager, admitted the drop in connections, but attributed it to the customers switching over to mobile phones.

Mr. Rananthram said the network in Polavaram mandal was extensively damaged due to the recent floods. Floodwaters entered the Ayodyalanka, Dondapudi, Hukumpet and Kanakayalanka telephone exchanges, paralysing the landline network in the area.

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