BSNL to distribute 5,000 SIM cards by lottery in Bihar

BSNL has begun booking in Bihar for its pre-paid Excel connection that will then be distributed through a computerised lottery system.

With demand for its SIM cards soaring, Government-owned Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) on Thursday began booking in Bihar for its pre-paid Excel connection that will then be distributed through a computerised lottery system.

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At present, Reliance is the only private mobile phone service operator in Bihar. With subscribers unhappy with it and Airtel and Tata Teleservices launching services later this year, the field is clear for BSNL. But it is unable to cope with demand.

So, like it did in Jammu and Kashmir, BSNL will distribute 5,000 Excel SIM card connections on the basis of a priority list through computerised lottery.

BSNL officials said application forms would be accepted till August 17. All forms would be allotted a priority number through a computerised lottery. "We have no option but to distribute SIM cards as per the priority list," he said.

The price of each application form has gone up from Rs 200 to Rs 500. The company has also done away with dealers/distributors and will prepare a waiting list like it does for landlines.