Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk, the world’s two richest businessmen, are set to take on Airtel’s Sunil Mittal and Reliance Jio’s Mukesh Ambani in the high-speed broadband and internet space as they have approached the Indian government with separate plans to offer satellite-based internet connectivity.
Sources said that Musk’s satellite internet venture, Starlink, and Amazon have held separate consultations with the telecom ministry – as well as the Department of Space – for starting satellite-based internet services in India, “though they are yet to apply for a license through the formal route”.
The plan of the companies is to offer large swathes of bandwidth – with speeds as high as 1 GBPS and even more – through low-earth orbit (LEO) satellites that would be deployed at a distance of around 1,000 km from Earth.
With extreme grief, we bring to you the sad news of the demise of our colleague Shri Bodh Ram Kunthe SDE Raipur, Chhattisgarh due to a road accident.
AIGETOA prays to the almighty to provide his family with sufficient strength and courage to tide over the crisis and for bearing this irreparable loss. We also pray so that the eternal soul rests in peace.
Serious flaws in the performance of Cluster based outsourcing system and massive surrender of Landline/Broadband Connections has been appraised to the management on multiple occasions and suggestions made in line with the discussion and deliberation held in our last CEC held on 2-3 August, 2021. A comprehensive submission is given by AIGETOA to the Committee formed for the purpose to look after the issues of the Cluster Performance. This has been given after making extensive consultations with our field level officers across the various Circles. We do hope that the management will take it in right spirit and incorporate the changes demanded by the association for the larger benefits of the BSNL.
A meeting of AIGETOA, SNEA and BSNLEU held with the Members of the Committee formed to look into the drawbacks of Cluster based outsourcing System. The meeting was held through online mode which was attended by the CGMT Kerala and CGMT Karanataka along with other members of the Committee. AIGETOA was represented by Shri Wasi Ahmad GS, Shri Ravi Shil Verma AIP and Shri Ansal Mohammad Adv CHQ.
AIGETOA and other Associations/Unions have kept on raising the serious bottlenecks of Cluster based outsourcing with the management and thereafter the committee was constituted to look into its various aspects for improvement.
It’s a fact that massive disconnections of copper based LL/BB are continuing despite of huge expenditure in the cluster system by BSNL. Tender for Cluster has several shortcomings including the limitation of penalty clause of 15%, no provisions to ensure sufficient manpower in a cluster/outdoor area and supply of proper store for maintenance etc resulting into severe dissatisfaction among customers and resulting in surrendering of the services. It was also apprised that the net expenditure has increased but quality of service is not meeting the minimum expectation of the customers. Even the top 50 performing BAs list released by the Corporate Office are not matching the standard parameters of SLA i.e. MTTR (4-12 Hrs) and Clearance of 95% Fault within 24 Hrs. This situation is prevailing as Cluster Partner is not providing the required support to maintain the services and our filed officers (JTO/SDE/DET) are struggling hard and facing the ire of various Civil Authorities in absence of optimum service.
AIGETOA presented detail report about the deficiency of the cluster system, challenges in the copper based network and suggestions for improvement to the Committee Members. In fact we have also suggested giving a re-look on the continuity of the Cluster System and investing money in current form and instead we should think to go back to conventional system for at least certain places owing to the fact that the copper based services have its own challenges in present time. SNEA and BSNLEU also gave their presentation on the topic.
The meeting of All Unions and Association of BSNL (AUAB) was held at New Delhi on 23.09.2021 and 25.09.2021. General Secretaries/Representatives of AIGETOA, BSNLEU, NFTE, SNEA, AIBSNLEA, SEWA BSNL, FNTO, BSNL MS, BSNL ATM, TEPU and BSNL OA, attended the meeting. The meeting reviewed the three day Dharna organised at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi and also discussed about the future course of action. The decision has been taken to organise a Twitter campaign on 06.10.2021 and a black flag/ black badge wearing demonstrations on 26.10.2021. The AUAB has issued the following circular carrying the decisions. The Circle and District Units are requested to implement the decisions taken in the meeting. AUAB has also issued a circular in this regard.
A notification of the Central Governing Body Meeting has been issued to hold it on 3rd October, 2021 (Sunday) to discuss and deliberate about shifting of the AIGETOA society office to new location as per the resolution of the Annual General Meet. The restructuring, promotion and other issues are also part of the discussion of the agenda items. The meeting will be held through online mode.
The AUAB meeting held at New Delhi on 23.09.2021 noted with satisfaction that the 3 days Dharna programme organized by the AUAB at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi from 21-23 September, 2021 has become highly successful. Large number of employees and Pensioners from Delhi as well as from nearby Circles of UP (West), Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand and UP (East) have enthusiastically participated in the 3 days Dharna programme. AUAB meeting also noted with satisfaction that the 3 days Dharna programme has created a great amount of zeal and motivation among the BSNL employees and the Pensioners throughout the country. The AUAB meeting conveyed its special thanks to all the employees and Pensioners who have participated in the programme from Delhi, UP(West), Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand and UP(East) and also puts on record it’s appreciation to all the Circle Union/Associations of the constituents of AUAB.
Further this meeting severely condemns the BSNL Management for issuing a very retrograde letter on 17.09.2021 to create a fear psychosis among the employees and to stop them from participating in this Dharna. By such letters, management is trying to snatch the DEMOCRATIC RIGHTS OF THE EMPLOYEES TO PROTEST, which we cannot be allowed.
The forum of All Unions and Association of BSNL assures that further struggles will be organized in the coming days, demanding settlement of the issues contained in the charter of demands as detailed below:
Immediate launching of BSNLs 4G Service, by way of up-gradation of the BTSs and also steps for moving towards the launching of 5G service.
Immediate settlement of the dues to BSNL, amounting Rs.39,000 Cr, by DoT.
Immediate steps to off-set BSNLs debt, through the Monetization of lands.
Disbursement of salary on the last date of every month.
No selling out of BSNLs 13,567 mobile towers, in the name of National Monetization Pipeline.
Complete review of the Cluster based Outsourcing System.
Immediate settlement of 3rd Pay Revision, Pension Revision and Enhancement of Superannuation Benefits (SAB) up to 30%, for the BSNL Directly Recruited Employees.
Speedy measures to improve the quality of BSNLs FTTH service.
Prompt maintenance of BTSs, proper up-keep of the power plants, as well as availability of batteries.
Strengthen the transmission networks by carrying out the speedy maintenance works. The leaders of the All Unions and Association of BSNL (AUAB) will hold a meeting with CMD BSNL today also.
The latest TRAI Report for the month of July 2021 shows the clear sign of BSNL’s strong come back in Fiber Broadband (FTTH) Segment. We have already witnessed the tremendous performance made by BSNL in FTTH segment not only in Kerala but also across all the telecom circles in India.
With extreme grief, we bring to you the sad news of the demise of mother of Sh Amit Roy (Advisor CHQ) today at Faridabad.
AIGETOA CHQ prays to the almighty to provide his family with sufficient strength and courage to tide over the crisis and for bearing this irreparable loss. We also pray so that the eternal soul rests in peace.
AIGETOA team Comprising of Shri D K Sahoo (AGS-I CHQ), Shri Ashok Acharya (JS East), Shri P K Mohanty (CP Odisha) and Shri Dhiren Parida (Circle Secretary Odisha) met CMD BSNL Shri P K Purwar at Bhubaneswar on 18th Setp 2021 & welcomed him to Temple City Bhubaneswar with a flower bouquets and honored him a specialized shawl of Odisha. AIGETOA Team submitted a memorandum containing BSNL revival issue & important HR issues of executives and some Odisha circle specific issues. In spite his busy schedule he discussed some of the important issues.
Promotion to all eligible executives before finalization of restructuring
Detail discussion held with CMD BSNL on the promotion issue. Where CMD BSNL informed about management’s action plan on promotion issue. We informed him that, as BSNL is going for a major structural change, it is utmost necessary to promote all the eligible executives to next grade as one time measure, which will resolve the stagnation issue of executives and definitely motivate employees for better performance. CMD agreed to discuss with his HR team on the issue.
Left out DPC to be done for JTO to SDE
CMD informed that, HR team already working on it. He assured to complete DPC process of remaining executives at the earliest. Reminder letter should be issued to DOT for the E2 for JTO/JAO and E3 for SDE/AO cadre. He informed that, reminder Letter to DOT for the E2 for JTO/JAO and E3 for SDE/AO cadre will be issued soon.
Payment of pending SAB contribution and enhance the quantum from 5%.
We expressed our deep concern over BSNL management’s complete ignorance on pension benefit issue of BSNL recruited employees by the name of financial condition of BSNL. We intimated him that, more than 75% of existing employees failing on this category and this is only hope for their future security and requested CMD to increase contribution. We also requested him to release pending SAB contribution immediately.
CMD BSNL agreed to release outstanding SAB contribution. Regarding enhancement of SAB contribution he informed that, same will be considered only after improvement in BSNL financial condition.
Immediate Launching 4G services and persuasion at the ministry level
CMD BSNL informed that, BSNL management continuously trying at the highest level for the launch of 4G services in BSNL which is invariable delayed due to Govt policy to use indigenous technology for 4G equipments also informed that matter related to up gradation existing N/W to 4G, already communicated to Hon’ble minister for necessary intervention and issuance of instruction for approval of proposal submitted by BSNL Management committee for upgrdation to 4G.
On the Odisha Circle specific issue
Providing CPAN equipment to cater to the demand of high bandwidth. Strengthening the transmission media to provide quality service.
4F and OLT/ONT for FTTH service
He has assured to extend necessary support to Odisha Circle for Strengthening of Tx Network and improvement of Network uptime. BNG equipment not to be diverted and utilized in Orissa. Agreed, not to divert BNG from Odisha Circle.
