JAIPUR: Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd. (BSNL) continues to dominate the telephone services in Rajasthan accounting for a total of 34 lakh connections, out of which 15 lakhs are cellular mobile connections. The corporation has a population of 2.24 crores under its mobile coverage while the attempt is to increase it to 3.09 crores by providing an additional 12 lakh new connections in future.

"We are number one in Rajasthan in both the landline as well as in mobile cellular services. The mobile coverage is at present available in all the 32 district headquarters and 234 tehsils out of 241 tehsils. Our network covers 4,359 km out of the 5,585 national highways passing through the State," said S.D. Saxena, Director (Finance) BSNL Headquarters, Delhi, talking to journalists here on Wednesday.

Under the Phase VI plan, the BSNL proposes to expand the total number of mobile phones in Rajasthan to 20 lakhs, covering all villages having a population of more than 2,000. The plan will cover 12,229 villages out of the total 39,753 villages, 5,200 km of the national highways, 2,057 of the State highways and 1,830 km of the rail route in the State.

"Rajasthan is a special State with its peculiar geographical problems and tough life. We accord special facilities to Rajasthan during its fairs and festivals," Mr. Saxena said. The Rajasthan Telecom Circle made a net profit of Rs.543 crores in 2005-06 against a profit of Rs.314 crores in 2004-05, he informed. "In difficult and far-flung terrains where electricity is not available or erratic, the BSNL is using solar panels to run exchanges," he noted.

At present Rajasthan has an overall tele-density of 6.02 (for a population of 100) while it is 16.31 in urban centres taken alone. "If we include the connections of private players as well, the tele-density of Rajasthan now must be around 10-11," said Mohan Lal Gumber, Chief General Manager of Rajasthan Telcom Circle.

The BSNL has 133,345 Internet subscribers in Rajasthan while its Broadband services are available in 16 district headquarters as well in important stations such as Bhiwadi, Pilani and Shahpura (Bhilwara).

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