India’s prominent public sector communication company Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) has brought for its subscribers a whole array of features that will give stiff competition to private sector rivals.

BSNL officers claim that its “twin number on a single SIM” feature, which was introduced in Uttar Pradesh (East) and is the first of its kind in India, has caught on and will be expanded soon to other parts of the state, said General Manager, BSNL, Satish Kumar.

The “twin number, single SIM” project was visualised when Government employees, specially policemen, approached the BSNL with a “problem”. According to rules, all Indian Police Service and Provincial Police Service officers are allotted a BSNL Common User Group (CUG) when they join the force. But barring unlimited calls to other CUG numbers, they have to make do with a fixed amount to call on other networks. Kumar said, “The cops were forced to carry two mobile phones, which can be cumbersome. About 50 per cent of subscribers in this scheme today are policemen.” BSNL records show there are 700 plus subscribers of this new service in the UP (East) circle.

Kumar said the subscriber can opt for any combination of numbers — either postpaid or postpaid. Both postpaid and prepaid schemes can also be accommodated on one SIM. “However, as both numbers are configured on a single card, it is essential to keep one mobile number diverted to the other one. Any handset can be used for this,” Kumar added. Deputy Director General of BSNL (Corporate) Anil Jain said, “This feature has been specifically launched in Lucknow. If it is successful here, it will be launched all over the country.”

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