BSNL unable to add pre-paid customers

<div class="section1"><div class="Normal">CHANDIGARH: The Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited is up against a unique problem in the Chandigarh telecom district. At a time when cellular operators are going head over heels to acquire new subscribers, steeped in the babu way of doing things, the BSNL is finding it hard to cater to customer requests for new pre-paid connections.<br /><br />As a result the pre-paid connections have made a disappearing act in the majority of retailing outlets in the city and neighbouring areas, leaving the applicants high and dry.<br /><br />Those desirous of getting a connection are being made to run from pillar to post but often to no avail.The situation is somewhat reminiscent of the old days when getting a new telephone connection could not be done without pulling a few strings at the right places.<br /><br />After acquiring a customer base of over 60,000 in the area, out of which 45,000 are of pre-paid variety, the BSNL is now unable to add new pre-paid customers on account of major capacity constraints. BSNL officials say that the operator''s Intelligent Network (IN) does not have the capacity to take on any new pre-paid connections.<br /><br />The number of connections catered to by the server and other components of the IN has touched the critical mark. As a result, the corporation is now releasing only old prepaid numbers that have been abandoned by the earlier users in the market. And what is more, the BSNL pre-paid users are also faced with congestion of the network while dialling numbers on the other networks.<br /><br />The whole situation smacks of bad planning on the part of BSNL officials. Those familiar with the state of affairs, point that the operator should have taken steps to spruce up its network well in advance keeping in view its growth trends. But BSNL authorities chose to stay put till the issue boiled over. The corporation, it seems, is finding it hard to shake off its inheritance of ''departmental way'' of doing things.<br /><br />BSNL deputy general manager Sanjay Aggarwal said that the authorities were seized of the issue and steps were underway to increase the capacities. "The situation will be eased before the end of April," he said.<br /><br /><formid=526372></formid=526372></div> </div>