(There was hype & media galore when BSNL launched its FTTH services in Pune. It had promised to change the state of broadband soon. But after nine months of launch, there are few takers to FTTH in Pune. Reasons; little or virtually zero marketing efforts, poor employee & customer education, high cost & sorry state of implementation practices. Days are numbered for BSNL.
Today, as I visited the BSNL’s Pune office to inquire about FTTx services ( Fiber to the Home), what I came across is complete apathy & lack of attitude by employees. Below is just real story of my interaction with BSNL staff in Pune)
“Excuse me, I want to know more about FTTH Service offered by BSNL in Pune”, I asked a CC lady sitting at front desk at Bajirao Road BSNL office.
There goes a little pause & confusion pops up on the face of lady. I become assertive.
“Where can I get more information about FTTH?”
“Sir, I don’t know what are you talking about, but you please go straight to end desk and talk to our senior lady for your inquiry”, the lady replied.
“Ok. Thank you”. I headed to the senior lady now.
After reaching to final desk, I was accosted by some 4-5 senior executives (women in mid 40s). I really didn’t know whom to ask about FTTH.
I stumbled at last desk, where these 4-5 ladies accosted me & asked, what am I looking for.
“I want information regarding the FTTH service offered by BSNL”
“Hmmm…Where you came to know about it?”, one of the lady re-questioned me.
” At you website only”, I replied,” but I want to see the live demo of the service first”.
“We don’t know, but what you can do, please go to room no.1, where senior lady is sitting, who can guide you for the same”, the same lady explained me the best way to get the information.
“Thank you”.
Now I was heading to room no.1, where some senior lady (no name), could possibly offer me some solution.
After reaching to room no.1, I again came across group of 10-12 mid aged women discussing something. There’s one man sitting at desk with laptop, trying to find something.
“Excuse me, I want some information about FTTH”, I dared to interrupt their chatter.
No one heed.
“Excuse me, I am looking for FTTH service information”, I raised my voice.
“FTTH….Hmmm”, one of the ladies was finally listening to me. She inquired to one another lady in group about it, but nothing came up.
“You do one thing, Mrs. Kulkarni mam (Name Changed), who is sitting inside cabin, can answer your queries. Please go and talk to her”, the lady guided me to one more lady.
“Thank you”, I was literally losing my patience now.
I entered one small cabin, where two mid aged women were sitting.
“Excuse me mam, where can I get info regarding BSNL’s FTTH Service in Pune?”, I asked one of the ladies.
“What information you want?”, one senior lady answered,” we don’t have much information at present, neither demo is available with us at present”.
“See, I want to get FTTH connection at home. How shall I get it?”, I came to the point directly.
“Then you have to subscribe to ‘Fibro2”, she pointed her finger to some chart at my backside, where BSNL’s FTTH Tariff card was put up.
“That’s Ok. But what type of services are these?”, I was trying to be dumb now.
“At present, we have only Internet. No Telephone. No TV (IPTV?). But you can connect you LCD TV to ONT(?) and watch TV too”, the senior lady replied confidently.
“Rs 4000 for Internet…That’s very costly”, I was trying to be defensive.
“Yes, FTTH is costly”, she confirmed,”but if you have 4-5 customers in a society, then it’s better”.
“Currently, we don’t have many subscribers using FTTH”, she continued,” there were MCC & ICC, but I have to confirm the same”, lady was giving me some clues now.
“But do we need STB (Set top Box) for IPTV for FTTH?”, I was not sure of what to say anymore.
“Nope! You don’t”, she was very sure,” you can use ONT & surf TV channels too”.
“Where can I get at least one or two demo to see, if possible?”, I was getting really irritated now.
The lady at desk dialed some numbers to find the names & locations of the customers using FTTH in Pune, but nothing came up.
“Give me you contact details. I will send someone to your place to check the feasibility”, lady asked me.
I gave the details and thanked them for the details.
