1.          During the physical inspection of rural telecommunication facilities provided under USO agreements in Haryana this office has observed that rural CDMA connections often remain non functional for prolonged periods due to the restricted and unreliable power supply in most rural areas, thereby adversely affecting the quality of rural connectivity.

2.         At present the telephones provided by BSNL in the rural areas of Haryana are functioning on 220v commercial power supply with battery back-up (SMPS). The battery back-up SMPS provides back-up power supply of a few hours. Given the erratic availability of power supply in the rural areas this back-up supply is insufficient and in most areas it runs out before commercial power is available to recharge it, rendering the telephone connection non functional.

3.          The same is the case with rural CDMA connections provided by TTS and RIL under USO. These RDels are provided with CDMA instruments having an internal battery with about 3 hours of power backup.

 

MEASURES TAKEN

 

4.         Discussions were held with Private USPs and BSNL to find a solution to this problem so as to improve rural services under USO. During the course of discussions the idea of utilizing solar chargers for CDMA instruments at subscriber premises emerged as a good potential solution.

 

5.     Consultations With Renewable Energy Department.  This office then took up the matter with the Haryana Government’s Renewable Energy Department (HAREDA) under a joint effort labeled Project ‘Sanchar Kiran.’ In May 2006 a proposal was sent by this office to HAREDA to customize solar battery charger developed/approved by HAREDA for use for charging battery back-ups of rural CDMA telephones being provided by various Telecom Operators in Haryana under USO Agreements with DOT .

 

6.       The understanding was that the solar battery charger so customized would be recommended to BSNL and private USPs for provision of the same with their rural phones.

 

7.          HAREDA was provided technical specifications and literature required for the purpose, keeping in mind the necessity to cater to the power requirement of various types of CDMA instruments being provided by different USPs under USO agreements in Haryana.

 

8.         Development Of Prototype. The matter was pursued vigorously with HAREDA by this office. The result of the above efforts was that the solar battery cum charger packs for CDMA connections of BSNL and solar chargers for the two private USPs were customized by HAREDA. For BSNL CDMA Connections a prototype has been tested in the field by officials, nominated from Ambala SSA & CTTC Kurukshtera by BSNL for the purpose..  

 

9.        Simultaneously, the prototypes developed specifically for TTS and RIL CDMA phones were handed over to these USPs for field testing and to explore the feasibility of providing the same with their rural CDMA connections..

 

10.    The final configuration & specifications of the solar charger cum battery pack were formulated after incorporating results of field testing and the same were communicated to the manufacturer. The manufacturers then accordingly prepared final specifications and proposals.

 

11.  Subsequently a meeting was held by GM (O) and GM (D) of BSNL Haryana. It was decided during the discussion to forward the proposal to TEC/BSNL QA for type approval.

 

12.  The deployment of Solar Chargers so developed in lieu of the normal battery back up for CDMA connections being provided by BSNL and other USPs would go a long way in improving the quality of rural telephone services. Though it has been impressed upon the USPs that the provision of solar chargers in power starved rural areas would lead to greater utilization and therefore greater demand and revenue generation for rural CDMA connections, the USPs would perhaps be more willing to incur additional cost of solar charger if the same is partly subsidized, at least in the initial stages.

 

13.  Subsidy Options. During discussions with HAREDA, the possibility of the cost of solar chargers being partly subsidized under the fiscal and financial incentives made available by Ministry of Non Conventional Energy Sources (MNES) and Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA), as a pilot project to encourage and demonstrate use of renewable energy devices in rural areas, had also emerged.

 

14.     Accordingly the matter has been taken up with DOT HQ and USOF. Administration at Delhi.

 

15. The USOF Administration has forwarded the project report to Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA) for their consideration for subsidy.