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BSNL chalks out plans to increase efficiency

Our Bureau

MANGALORE, Nov. 26

AS the Dakshina Kannada district of Karnataka lays claim to its share in the `telecom revolution', Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd has chalked out plans to increase its overall reach and efficiency.

As for the entire State of Karnataka, a total allocation of Rs 1,100 crore was made for 2000-2001 and, at a growth rate of 25 per cent, the money to be spent on widening the network is expected to be higher for the next financial year. During the current year so far, 18 lakh lines have been added with another 4.25 lakh expected to be added by the end of the financial year. This number too is expected to be higher next year. And, of course, BSNL might be in a position to offer its own cellular services b y August 2001.

According to the Chief General Manager (Telecom) of the Karnataka Circle, Mr T. Ramamurthy, a technological drive in the whole State in general and the Dakshina Kannada telecom district in particular -- the second biggest telecom district after Bang alore with 213 exchanges and an equipped capacity of 2,45,244 covering a total of 638 villages -- will ensure the expansion of switching capacity by 52,000 lines with 32,000 lines for the Mangalore area and 20,000 lines for the Udupi area.

As many as 34 small exchanges are to be converted to CDOT-SBM type exchanges during 2000-2001 and optical fibre connectivity would be provided to 78 stations in the entire district. About 660 km of optical fibre cable is to be laid during the year.

As things stand now, the DK telecom district has a telephone density of over 7 per 100, higher than the State average of 4.33 per 100 which, in turn, is higher than the national average. The Internet node which was commissioned in Mangalore in 1998 has a lso been upgraded to a `C-type' node and the band width has been increased from 1 to 2 Mbps.