Rs 27.5 billion ought to be provided to BSNL to support its rural wireline connections: TRAI

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has made recommendations aimed at supporting Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited?s (BSNL) wireline connections in rural areas, say news reports.

The regulator has suggested providing Rs 27.5 billion for the same, specifically for connections installed before April 2002.  It has added that this sum may be broken up as Rs 15 billion for the first year and Rs 12.5 billion for the second year.

Prior to this, faced with stiff competition and declining subscriptions in rural areas, BSNL had requested Rs 25.8 billion per year to sustain these connections.