10/1/2002 9:35:18 AM

BSNL defers CellOne launch over exclusive '94' prefix

KOLKATA: The private cellular industry backlash over a privileged mobile numbering plan (Access level 94) for Bharat Sanchar Nigam (BSNL) is starting to tell on the state-owned telecom behemoth.

To start with, BSNL has just deferred the national rollout of its cellular services. Instead of the scheduled October 2 rollout, BSNL now proposes to launch its cellular services under the ‘CellOne’ banner on October 19.

Officially, BSNL has linked the unavoidable delay to “Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee’s very hectic schedule.” “BSNL’s CellOne services will now be launched nationally by the Prime Minister from Lucknow...but Vajpayeeji is not available before October 19,” top sources in the Union communications ministry told ET.

Regardless of the official government line, other compulsions appear to have induced BSNL to delay its ‘CellOne’ cellular services. For starters, BSNL is undecided on whether to go it alone, in the event its mobile traffic (with the new ‘94’ numbering code) is barred by the country’s private cellular networks in retaliation to its exclusive numbering system.

“We are hopeful the private cellular industry will come around, failing which we may be compelled to take the extreme measure of bypassing the 8.3m private mobile customers...Trai guidelines categorically state that all cellular operators must be linked to BSNL’s fixed networks,” top BSNL officials said.

Source: The Economic Times