Amid coronavirus crisis, BSNL introduces free broadband for a month to support 'work from home'

New Delhi: State-run telecom firm BSNL on Friday announced free broadband service for its landline and new customers for a month to support ‘work from home’ allowed by most organisations amid the coronavirus outbreak. New customers opting for copper cable-based connection will not have to pay even installation charges but will need to buy a modem for the service, BSNL officials said. [caption id=“attachment_4022639” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Representative image. Reuters.[/caption] “Broadband service is being offered free of charge for one month to all citizens across the country, who have BSNL landline and do not have any broadband so that they can use this service either to work from home, educate from home or anything that can minimise the need to move outdoor,” BSNL Director (CFA) Vivek Banzal said in a statement. Another BSNL official said the scheme is also applicable for new customers and after a month of usage, all the subscribers will be moved to paid plans. The official said installation charge will be applicable for customers opting for optical fibre connectivity. BSNL customers can apply for the connection over the phone. “We have made the whole process paperless and customers need not come to our customer service center to avail the broadband service,” Banzal said.