BSNL unveils 3 value-added services

From The Hindu Business Line of May 18, 2009

Ahmedabad, May 18

Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd launched video telephony, video surveillance and mobile advertising in collaboration with partners based on a revenue share model with infusion of capital investment through partners. The three value-added services are expected to bolster BSNL’s revenue streams at a time when the tariff incomes are dwindling, said Mr Kuldeep Goyal, Chairman and Managing Director.

BSNL launched video telephony in association with Sai InfoSystems Ltd in 12 northern and western States. This product makes it possible to view the person you are talking to on the telephone screen while on a live call. “An ATA box, ranging from Rs 1,000 to over Rs 15,000 would have to be installed and it would provide video and voice on broadband. Though Skype, Google and others provide video chat for free on the Internet, we guarantee quality to our customers at almost free of cost,” said Mr Sunil Kakkad, Chairman and Managing Director, SIS.

Revenue share ratio
The investment will happen in phases and be met through internal accruals, said Mr Balkrishna Sharma, Vice-President (Finance and Acquisition), SIS. “The revenues from the sale of equipment will come to us and we have agreed on a competitive revenue share ratio with BSNL from the tariffs. We have divided the revenue stream on the basis of domestic and international call tariffs, wherein BSNL will benefit in one and SIS in the other,” he said, without divulging details.

The VVOBB would have touch-screen mode with video messaging, PCO, IP Centrex and VOIP. The international call tariff rates are expected to decline to Re one per minute as the traffic builds up, said Mr Goyal.

BSNL also announced the launch of real time video surveillance systems in association with Rivacom Pvt Ltd in the west zone with a promised revenue share of 30 per cent. The installation cost of equipment would vary between Rs 10,000 and Rs 1 lakh based on the features of the camera.

“We have made significant investments, around a few crore rupees in each State and in the next six months we hope to enter Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and all of the States where broadband is popular,” said Mr Ravi Pall, Advisor, Rivacom. Possible usage areas are homes where both the couples work, offices and public places that need to be placed under constant surveillance.

Mobile advertising
Rivacom has got enquiries from many players, including the Railways, for the installation of the IP cams that are expected to replace CCTVs, he added.

Integrated mobile advertising, where one can select the kind of advertisements, the time of receiving and other preferences, would change the way we think about ads on our telephones and we will start liking them, said Mr Goyal, while launching BSNL’s third product of the day. A BSNL customer would have to follow a four-step process to receive the ads, which may be exchanged for free talk time later.