BSNL staff under scanner for marketing other brands

Chennai: Following a report in this newspaper that the broadband modems issued by the Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd were having technical faults and some of the BSNL staff were indulging in promoting non-BSNL telecom products, the top brass of the Chennai telephones have ordered an enquiry.

The top officials have also pulled up the marketing managers. The marketing managers have been asked to furnish the log of sales made by them and explain if there was a dip in sales, BSNL sources said.

“I was told by a few whistleblowers inside the BSNL that chief general manager Balasubramaniam bombarded the errant BSNL staff last week following the DC report. Subsequently the temporary  stalls that were selling non-BSNL broadbands near the BSNL customer care centres are now missing from the vicinity,” said Mr V. Sathiabalan, a former telecom advisory member, who had also lodged a complaint.

“It is a fact there were some technical problems with the modems promoted by BSNL and subsequently BSNL had abstained from the hardware sales. There are some BSNL authorised centres, where our customers are diverted,” said a BSNL official.

“Our prime focus is the mobile and landline services. Whenever our rivals were spotted setting up counters near BSNL outlets, they have been asked to vacate the place and steps have also been taken to prevent the sales of non-BSNL products near all BSNL offices,” the official said adding a few members of telecom advisory committee have also raised the issue and their inputs are being used to strengthen BSNL network, the official said.  

The top officials have also issued detailed guidelines to be followed by branch managers to step up sales and customer services, it is said.

“Unlike private players BSNL does not fleece public with hidden charges, but at times the service is not up to the satisfactory level. BSNL has better connectivity in inter state border areas in the country and can bounce back by improving their range of services,” pointed out Mr N. Balaji, a BSNL customer and an avid wildlife photographer.