The rise of mobile phones has no doubt cast a massive shadow over landlines, but state-run BSNL and MTNL are determined to resurrect the age-old calling system. They have hence come up with a plan that will offer unlimited free outgoing calls during the night.
While Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited operates in all areas except for New Delhi and Mumbai, Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited is active in just those two major territories. The former has said that it will be providing users with free unlimited calls to landlines as well as mobile phones during the time span of 9pm to 7am.
MTNL on the other hand will be providing the same service from 10pm to 7pm. This offer will be granted not only to its landline customers but also to its broadband users who get a fixed line by default. Its free unlimited calling even applies to calls made from Delhi landlines to any network in Mumbai and vice versa during the dedicated hours.
The plan has been chalked up as an experiment of sorts, which will take place for six months before the results are evaluated. The aim is to attract more customers towards fixed lines, and in the process, resurrect the whole business altogether.
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According to a report by Hindustan Times, landline customers of BSNL have fallen from 27.83 million in 2010 to 16.93 million in 2015. MTNL on the other hand, boasts of just 3.5 million users in the two densely populated territories that it operates in.
Let us now wait and watch whether or not this attempt of BSNL and MTNL’s manages to spur people’s interest in landlines once again.