AUAB writes to the minister

The All Unions and Associations of BSNL (AUAB) has written to the Telecom Minister, Ashwini Vaishnaw, that the company was become more vulnerable due to the launching of 5G service by the private operators.

According to the AUAB, “BSNL’s revival is unimaginable, without the immediate launching of 4G service by the Company.” AUAB is dismayed to note that, the launching of BSNL’s 4G service is nowhere in sight.

“The condition of BSNL is becoming more vulnerable due to the launching of 5G service by the private operators. Thus, the first and the foremost step that the government can do for ensuring the revival of BSNL, is to allow the Company to launch its 4G service, with proven technology and with world class equipment that match the standard of the equipment of the private companies. However, the insistence of the government that, BSNL should procure it’s 4G equipment only from Indian vendors, has done irreparable damage to the Company.

TCS has been identified for the supply of 4G equipment to BSNL. However, the deadlines set by the DoT for the completion of PoC, have not been met by TCS. Further, the Purchase Order placed by BSNL on March 31, 2022, for the procurement of 6,400 4G BTSs, has not been accepted by TCS so far. Serious doubts are there, whether the equipment to be supplied by TCS will match the quality of the equipment deployed by the private operators,” wrote Chairman, AUAB Chandeshwar Singh and Convenor P. Abhimanyu.

“All the private operators are placing their Purchase Orders with the global vendors, for the procurement of their 5G equipment. In such a situation, why BSNL should be compelled to procure it’s 4G equipment only from Indian vendors. And that too, when no Indian vendor is having the proven technology to supply 4G equipment. This is nothing but denial of level playing ground to BSNL, vis-à-vis the private operators.

At a time when BSNL is in the ICU, it should not be made the ‘guinea pig’ for testing the technology of the Indian vendors. Hence, this meeting of the AUAB demands that, BSNL should be provided with level playing ground in the matter of procurement of equipment. To ensure level playing ground, BSNL should be permitted to procure world class equipment from vendors who are having proven technology. BSNL is carved out of the DoT. At the time of the formation of BSNL, it was told by the government that, the sole purpose of creating BSNL was to ensure level playing ground to all the operators. However, after formation of BSNL, level playing ground is continuously being denied to BSNL. The latest round of denial of level playing ground to BSNL is the condition that, it should procure it’s 4G equipment only from Indian vendors. Further, BSNL is being made the ‘guinea pig’ for testing the indigenous technology. In such circumstances, BSNL is unable to compete with the private operators on an equal footing.

It is also mentioned in the Revival Package announced on 27th July, 2022, that, BSNL acts as the ‘market balancer’ in the telecom market and it also plays a crucial role in expansion of telecom services in rural areas, development of indigenous technology and disaster relief. When BSNL is expected to carry out all the aforementioned tasks, how the Company can be expected to compete with the private operators and make profits? Hence, the AUAB demands that the government should consider converting BSNL back into a department of the Government of India.”

In another letter shot to PK Purwar, CMD BSNL, the AUAB said: “The AUAB meeting held on 11.08.2022, took serious note of the threatening that are being sent to the employees, after the announcement of the Revival Package for BSNL. A picture is being sought to be painted, as if BSNL is facing the crisis only due to the lethargy and incompetence of the employees. Everyone knows that the fact is the other way round. The employees are doing their best to serve the organisation, even amidst adverse conditions. The workload of the employees has increased manifold, after the sending home of 80,000 employees under VRS. In many places, due to the paucity of funds, the Executives are spending money from their pockets to maintain the services.”

CT Bureau