At present the rates offered by BSNL are equal to that being offered by other private players i.e. it gives its customers 1 GB of 3G mobile internet service for Rs 175 and 2GB for Rs 251. The new slashed tariff which will be at half the rate of what it is offering now, will be applicable when BSNL completes phase 7 network expansion plan. The expansion plan will cost BSNL about Rs 4,800 crore ($1 billion approx) and is expected to be completed by June this year. BSNL also said that it will start working on phase 8 network expansion plan and expects to start issuing tender for this phase in the first quarter of financial year 2015-16. Under Phase 8, BSNL has plans to integrate wifi hotspots that it is rolling out in 2,500 cities and towns with 3G by end of next year to increase network capacity.
