Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd plans to switch over to the call-detail-record billing system for its 3.5 crore (35 million)landline subscribers in the next two to three months.
"Our landline billing system as of now works on the conventional technology, and we are unable to give a customised offer to subscribers. But very soon all that will be a thing of the past," BSNL Deputy Director General, (Enterprise Business), Sunil Kumar told PTI.
Telephone exchanges spread over 20 major cities across the country would switch over to the CDR system for billing in the next 2-3 month, he said.
The entire project is being carried out in a phased manner and over the next 6-8 month, all the exchanges will be connected to this technology, he said.
"One of the advantages of the new billing system is that one single bill could be generated for an entire corporate house, and the payments also, accordingly be made from any where in the country," the BSNL official said.
"In addition, we will be able to offer various
tariff plans to landline customers on the lines of mobile tariff plans."
The introduction of the CDR billing system is part of the public sector company's plans to become an information and communication technology services provider.
BSNL is also looking at providing managed network services, Kumar said.
MNS is a typical progression for telecom operators that have big networks, Kumar said, adding, "as the IT and telecom requirements of the enterprises are increasing, we aim to become a one-stop-shop for all their requirements, be it voice, data, application, security or any other such need."
"As a part of the MNS, we are also in the process of introducing global audio conferencing to our subscribers."
The service may be launched as early as within the next four weeks, Kumar added.
Audio conferencing is a calling feature that can be used when there are more than two participants or callers. In audio conferencing, the call from both ends is charged as per the local tariffs.