CMD BSNL meets general secretaries of the major unions and associations.

The CMD BSNL held a meeting today, with the major unions and associations. Com. P. Abhimanyu, GS, BSNLEU, com. K. Sebastin, GS, SNEA and com. Prahlad Rai, GS, AIBSNLEA attended. Com. Chandeswar Singh, GS, NFTE is out of Delhi. The following issues were discussed.  

CMD BSNL should present the flood relief amount to the CM, Kerala.

The AUAB has already requested the CMD BSNL to deduct one day’s basic pay from willing officials. In today’s meeting the representatives requested that the deducted amount should be handed over by the CMD BSNL, to the Chief Minister of Kerala. They told that, this would give a very good publicity to BSNL. The CMD BSNL agreed to look into this.

“BSNL At Your Door steps” will be launched on 24.09.2018.

The AUAB has already taken decision to conduct “BSNL At Your Doorsteps" movement, to boost BSNL’s revenue collection, by stepping up sales and marketing of the Company. The AUAB has also desired that, this movement should be jointly launched by the AUAB and the Management. This issue was discussed in today’s meeting.

 
Finally, the following decisions are taken.

1. “BSNL At Your Doorsteps” will be jointly launched by the AUAB and the Management.

2. The inauguration of this movement will take place at BSNL Corporate Office on 24th September, 2018 evening. All the CGMs will also participate in this launching. (HOCC is taking place in Corporate Office on 24th & 25thSeptember, 2018).

Delay in allotment of 4G spectrum.

The representatives expressed their concern over the undue delay in the allotment of 4G spectrum to BSNL and also over the network congestion prevailing in many parts of the country. They drew the attention of the CMD to media reports, which have quoted the Hon’ble MoS(C) as saying that, 4G spectrum would be allotted to BSNL only in December, 2018. The CMD BSNL told that, he is taking all out efforts for the early allotment of 4G spectrum.

Little scope for Subsidiary Tower Company.

The AUAB is opposing the Subsidiary Tower Company tooth and nail. Decision has been taken to stall the Board meeting, and also for total walk out by the Executives and Non- Executives, in case Board meeting is scheduled, for giving approval for the appointment of CMD of Subsidiary Tower Company. This issue came up for discussion today.

Consolidation is taking place in a big way in the telecom industries. All the small operators have closed down their business. After the recent merger of Vodafone and Idea, there are only 4 operators in each circle. BSNL, Jio, Airtel, and Vodafone - Idea. Under these circumstances, there will be very less business for the Subsidiary Tower Company. The BSNL Management has informed this to the government, through it’s letter, written a week ago. This was disclosed by the CMD BSNL in today’s meeting.

 
Outsourcing of passive maintenance of BSNL’s towers.

The representatives expressed their concern at the outsourcing. The CMD BSNL replied that at present the “uptime” of BSNL towers is only 80% - 85%. The uptime will increase to 97%, due to this outsourcing. Further, BSNL will save Rs.100 crore by way of maintenance expenditures. While the active maintenance of towers would be continued to be done by BSNL, only the passive maintenance, including provisioning  of batteries, engine alternators, diesel, payment of EB bill, etc., would be done by the outsourced party. The total payment for this will be Rs.6, 633 crores. The CMD BSNL further told that, the cases filed in the Delhi High Court and Supreme Court, against this outsourcing, by vested interests, are already dismissed.

BSNL’s CSCs to be used by UIDAI

The CMD BSNL informed that the UIDAI has decided to utilise BSNL’s CSCs for Aadhaar authentication. For this, the UIDAI will give money for Capital Expenditure (CAPEX) and Operational Expenditure (OPEX) to BSNL. The CMD BSNL told that this would help BSNL.