Come July 15, one of
India
“The growing use of
mobile phones and Internet has led to steep decline in the usage of the
telegraphic service…it [the telegram] has become financially unviable. After
stopping telegram service for overseas communication earlier this year, we have
now decided to discontinue it for the domestic market from July 15. The BSNL
Board has already approved it. Final clearance is now being sought from the
Department of Telecommunications,” a senior BSNL official told The Hindu.
In India , the first telegraph message was
transmitted live through electrical signals between Calcutta
(now Kolkata) and Diamond
Harbour
Over the years, the
BSNL made several technical upgrades in the telegraph service, with the latest
being the introduction of a web-based messaging system in 2010. However,
growing Internet penetration and cheaper mobile phones in the last decade have
kept people away from the 182 telegraph offices across the country.
“In May 2011, we
revised telegram charges after six decades to arrest declining revenues…but it
did not work. It is estimated that the BSNL is suffering an annual loss of Rs.
300 - 400 crore from its telegraph service alone. As it has virtually become
redundant, it is prudent to shut it down. However, there will be no job cuts
and all those working in telegraph offices will perform other jobs related to
telephone and Internet services,” the official added.
The BSNL’s financial
performance in recent years has been alarming. From a profit of Rs. 575 crore
in 2008-09, the telecom giant has been reporting massive losses for the last
three years. In 2012-13, its losses stood at a staggering Rs. 8,198 crore.
source : The Hindu