IT Correspondent
Mumbai, Nov 16:
A potato vendor from Kota in Rajasthan, Tanuj Dudeja, recently bought BSNL’s mobile phone carrying the number XXX7000000 by bidding for the same in the “Fancy Numbers Auction” category
He collected the VIP number from the BSNL office in Farrukhabad in Uttar Pradesh. This is not the first VIP or fancy number for Dudeja. He had paid Rs 1 lakh for another fancy number earlier. The bid for the XXX7000000 number had started at Rs 20,000. It went above and across Rs 2,00,000 at a point, and it was the Dudeja who came on top, sources said.
It is certainly interesting to see people paying lakhs of rupees for a SIM card number. That too, when that number is from the state-run telecom, which doesn’t really have a 4G presence in India. This is not to say that purchasing a VIP number for this exorbitant amount makes sense if it is from one of the private telecommunication companies.
There are more VIP numbers available for bidding on BSNL’s website under the “Fancy Numbers Auction” category, if the users want fancy ones. Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) might not be the most attractive telecom operator in the country, but its VIP or fancy numbers still see a lot of interest among the Indian citizens. VIP or fancy numbers don’t really come with any additional benefits. They are just easy to remember.
In the meanwhile the BSNL Chairman P K Purwar in a recent function in New Delhi stated that the BSNL is operationally-stable and can launch 4G services within six months. It is looking to place an initial 4G equipment order of 50,000 sites following the successful outcome of the proof-of-concept. The BSNL would be in a stronger competitive position once it launches 4G services.
The BSNL is going ahead with home grown network technology after successful completion of its proof-of-concept in Chandigarh, he added.