BSNL rolls out one month 4G service plan offer for Re 1
Tired of too many ads?
Remove Ads
Tired of too many ads?
Remove Ads
State-run telecom firm BSNL on Friday rolled out 4G service plan offer for Re 1 with one month validity in an attempt to draw more customers.The company has recently completed rollout of its 4G network across India."Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) today (Friday) launched its much-anticipated 'Freedom Plan' -- a limited-period Re 1 offer that gives users to test BSNL's 4G mobile services for one full month. This initiative marks BSNL's celebration of India's Independence Day and offers citizens a chance to experience India's own indigenously developed 4G technology at no cost," the company said in a statement.The plan includes unlimited voice calls (local/STD), 2 GB high-speed data per day, 100 SMS/day and a free BSNL SIM."With BSNL's 4G-designed, developed, and deployed under the 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' mission -- we are proud to be putting India among a select group of nations that have built their own telecom stack. Our 'Freedom Plan' gives every Indian a chance to test and experience this indigenous network for 30 days -- free of cost -- and we are confident they will see the BSNL difference," BSNL Chairman and Managing Director A Robert J Ravi said.BSNL is rolling out 1 lakh 4G sites across the country using Make-in-India technology, and this initiative is a major milestone toward empowering digital India with secure, high-quality and affordable mobile connectivity.BSNL's competitors Jio, Bharti Airtel , and Vodafone Idea are offering similar prepaid plan benefits for Rs 349, Rs 379, and Rs 399, respectively.While BSNL will offer only 4G service, private telecom operators are offering unlimited 5G and access to entertainment apps without any additional cost in their plans.The move comes days after Union telecom minister Jyotiraditya Scindia asked BSNL to add customers and grow its mobile service business by 50 per cent in the next year.During a review meeting of BSNL with all circle and business unit heads earlier this week, the minister asked each unit to increase enterprise business by 25-30 per cent and fixed line business by a minimum of 15-20 per cent.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
12 minutes ago
- Time of India
US, China and Russia: Navigating the superpower trilemma
Today, Indian foreign policy discourse is mired in an important debate. Two key assumptions govern this debate: that New Delhi's ties with the US arguably constitute its most important relationship in the 21st century, and that any negotiations with Beijing are a signal of weakness. India-US relations are undergoing a tense phase. The tensions have primarily been instigated by US President Donald Trump's decision to impose a 25% tariff on India, and an additional, 'unspecified penalty' for continuing to buy energy resources from Russia. His social media comments have gone so far as to refer to both India and Russia as 'dead economies.' Naturally, this has called into question the time-tested nature of the partnership in the face of the 'China challenge'. With the US-China equation changing, India has to balance ties with both as well as work towards its own national interests Speaking of China, after a long period of severed dialogue, postures on both sides have slightly relaxed, though the road to stability vis-à-vis the border issue, or even China's backing of Pakistan, is long and winding. Nonetheless, communication and negotiation between the two neighbours is underway, and is perhaps a welcome break from the silent-but-violent treatment. Besides the volatility in New Delhi's ties with the two superpowers, there exists a bilateral dynamic between the US and China, which vitally impacts India. An intense back-and-forth of escalating tariffs ensued between the two economic giants earlier this year. Yet, Trump's recent statements seem to suggest that a trade deal with Beijing is in the works. So how does that affect India? So far, India has believed that Trump's continued dissatisfaction with Beijing will be a core aspect of mutual convergence between itself and the US. This definitely was the case under the Joe Biden administration. But if anything is certain about Trump, it is that nothing, indeed, is certain. So, the US and China may not be entering a friendly phase, but they sure are inching toward some semblance of stability. The dynamics of this fateful triangle require that India think in its national interests— sustained economic growth and security of its territory from both external and internal threats. And as PM Modi himself remarked in an interview in 2023, '[The] foremost guiding principle in foreign affairs is our country's national interest.' This begs the question: How should New Delhi balance the nuances of its ties with the US and China and the repercussions of their own thaw, while working to achieve its national interests? One way is not to believe that negotiations with China signal weakness. This anxiety is likely to play up as New Delhi and Beijing negotiate. Most recently, India has eased tourism rules, while China has opened up access for Indians to undertake the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra. To a great degree, India's geographical, economic and military constraints require that communication with Beijing continue for sustainable security to be achieved. This is not to say that India should give up its confident posture, or discontinue investments in de-risking or border security. It is also not a call for it to shed its affinity for the US. But the steps toward a thaw with Beijing — high-level political conversations, ministerial-level dialogues, and working mechanism consultations on the border — are necessary. And at a time when Trump seems to be prepared to meet the 'China challenge' alone, India must figure its own way out to do the same. Second, is to evaluate costs when it comes to fulfilling its energy requirements through purchases from Russia. The affordability of such purchases, and the historic nature of ties with Moscow (especially in defence), make it a vital partner to New Delhi. However, Trump is prioritising reciprocal access to the Indian market over having a vital partner in the Indo-Pacific. And in a world where the US is vastly more powerful than India — or in most aspects, even China — much of what Trump says, goes. So the question is, where is the common ground between India not shedding its friendship with Russia, not risking insurmountable tariffs from the US, and not enabling China's unchecked regional power? The intertwined interests of economic growth and stable security seem orthogonal in this situation. But it is important to face facts. If it wasn't buying oil from Russia, India would still get the tariff slap. If there was great openness in the Indian dairy and agricultural markets, which Trump consistently demands, there would still be an 'unspecified penalty' for trading with Russia. So, the acknowledgement that there is no absolute win-win, is essential. It boils down to assessing what is more harmful — not making any adjustments to the trade numbers with Russia, or the US. It is also important to acknowledge the trade-offs — if there is a significant reduction in the imports of oil and/or defence equipment from Russia, and the US becomes the preferred alternative source of imports, Moscow may become unabashed in its support for China in its disputes with India. If trade with Russia continues as is, India shall face agonistic tariffs under Donald Trump and an overall lack of support in regional geopolitics. It is indeed true that India's tariffs continue to remain high, market openness is low, and domestic innovation and production capability face challenges. Hence, is the first step to addressing the above mentioned dilemma to take difficult steps towards phased openness? Most likely. It may assuage Trump's concerns about the US's trade deficit, without creating many troubles in India-Russia relations. Finally, the worrisome trend of self-reliance across the globe is leaving fewer alternatives for India to replace its dependencies on the US, China, or Russia. Where it gets affordable imports, it faces controversial dilemmas. Where it sees a strong partner, it faces chiding and deriding. So, moving forward, even as the willingness to negotiate diplomatically must continue, India must invest in its own trajectory toward economic and military modernisation. Illustration credit: Illustration by Chad Crowe (USA) Facebook Twitter Linkedin Email Disclaimer Views expressed above are the author's own.
Time of India
26 minutes ago
- Time of India
Centre picks Medak for pharma energy scheme
1 2 Hyderabad: The Centre has selected Medak district in Telangana to promote global energy efficiency technologies in the pharma industryunder the Assistance in Deploying Energy Efficient Technologies in Industries and Establishments (ADEETIE). Through this scheme, MSMEs are expected to reduce energy consumption by 30 to 50%, enhance their power-to-product ratio, and support the creation of green energy corridors. The Centre has allocated Rs 1,000 crore for the scheme across the country. Being implemented by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), the scheme aims to accelerate the adoption of advanced energy-efficient technologies in MSMEs. BEE has called upon all state govts to act swiftly and ensure the successful implementation of ADEETIE, urging engagement with state-designated agencies (SDAs) to inform stakeholders, identify suitable clusters, and assist MSMEs in transitioning to new technologies. You Can Also Check: Hyderabad AQI | Weather in Hyderabad | Bank Holidays in Hyderabad | Public Holidays in Hyderabad ADEETIE is being rolled out across 60 industrial clusters and 14 energy-intensive sectors, such as textiles, foundries, and food processing, through a phased and cluster-specific approach targeting precise interventions for tangible outcomes. BEE has selected five states for the ADEETIE scheme to promote global energy efficiency technologies in the pharma industry, including Telangana. Apart from Medak, the scheme will also be implemented in Baddi, Madgaon, Ahmedabad, and Bidar for pharma sector innovation. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Indian NRIs Are Getting Eligible For INR 2 Lakh Monthly Pension On Retirement. Invest 18K/M Get Offer Undo by Taboola by Taboola "ADEETIE is a big boon to the MSME sector," said Akash Tripathi, additional secretary, ministry of power and director general, BEE, urging all states to leverage this opportunity from the outset to ensure the scheme's success and optimise benefits for their industries. From the ₹1,000-crore budget, ₹875 crore is designated as interest subvention to facilitate concessional finance for energy-efficient upgrades, with ₹50 crore earmarked for implementation and capacity-building. The initiative is projected to mobilise investments of over ₹9,000 crore, including substantial contributions from MSMEs themselves. The Union govt views the scheme as an essential tool for post-pandemic recovery and for fostering long-term sustainability, employment generation, and the pursuit of India's climate and net-zero objectives. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Friendship Day wishes , messages and quotes !
Time of India
27 minutes ago
- Time of India
Flagging a downturn: Future tense for Hubballi's khadi tricolour makers
Hubballi: Amendment to the National Flag Code, that allows citizens to hoist flags made of polyester and other materials throughout the year, has impacted the livelihood of workers involved in the making of khadi national flags at the production centre in Bengeri in Hubballi, under Karnataka Khadi Gramaodyog Samyukta Sangha (KKGSS). The centre, which previously held the exclusive rights to produce khadi flags, witnessed a sharp decline in orders, forcing workers, mostly skilled in traditional khadi weaving, to move to other tasks. An eerie silence hangs over the facility that used to typically produce thousands of flags annually, especially before Independence Day celebrations. The KKGSS management has diversified its production line to include other khadi products to sustain operations. This change has not only impacted direct employees, but also the entire supply chain, including raw material suppliers and local traders. Many traditional artisans who specialised in khadi flag-making for decades are suddenly being forced to learn new skills as the centre has started focusing on producing khadi bags, clothing, furnishings, and other traditional items. Apart from the obvious financial implications, the changed circumstances come with an emotional disconnect as well. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Glasgow: If You Were Born Between 1940-1975 You Could Be Eligible For This Life Cover Reassured Get Quote Undo While polyester flags are cheaper and more readily available, khadi flags represent a connection to India's freedom struggle and the self-reliance movement. Annapurna Doddamani, the manager at KKGSS national flag production centre, said the centre, with its 25 artisans, halted flag production in March-April this year due to diminished demand. To keep the artisans employed, they have moved to producing khadi bags. The artisans now make 10-15 zippered bags daily, earning only around Rs 25 per bag. Shivanand Mathapati, the KKGSS secretary, reported that the centre currently holds a flag inventory worth more than Rs 2 crore. The organisation sought amendments to the modified National Flag Code during the 'Har Ghar Tiranga' celebration, marking 'Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav'. Even then, the flag production unit continues to struggle. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Friendship Day wishes , messages and quotes !
