BSNL plans a CDMA push

BSNL which is currently investing about Rs 2,000 crore on a CDMA network rollout, will offer bundled handsets. At present, BSNL offers mobile services on the GSM platform across the country, except in Delhi and Mumbai, and has about 38 million customers on this technology platform. The telecom company does not offer bundled handsets with GSM connections. BSNL’s move to offer full-fledged CDMA services comes even as existing players in this segment such as Reliance Communications and the Tatas are moving to the GSM turf. In the initial stage, BSNL will limit its CDMA offerings to the top 500 towns and cities across India. Early this year, the government had approved BSNL’s proposal to offer CDMA services and granted it a fullfledged CDMA mobility licence and spectrum to launch services. BSNL is in the process of setting up 10,000 towers for its CDMA networks.