With BSNL launching its new plan for land line connections (monthly charges of Rs. 49), the Coimbatore Circle is expecting about 15,000 new connections a month, a top official said today.

The plan would be valid for the first six months of getting connections, with Re.1 per metered call unit (MCU) for BSNL network and Rs.1.20 MCU for other networks and would be converted into general plan later, principal general manager, Coimbatore Circle, D. Sivaraj told reporters here.

Stating that at least two lakh new connections were expected at national level for this ‘Experience LL 49 plan’, he said that in Coimbatore circle, comprising Pollachi, Tirupur and Coimbatore, it was expected to get at least 15,000 connections, which would also get a free pre-paid SIM card.

This plan was to encourage the general public to go for BSNL connection, as it had already announced unlimited free calls on Sundays, coupled with the existing free night calls to all network from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m. the next day, he said.

As part of switching to to 3G service, the BSNL has already proposed 2,000 towers and 80 per cent work completed, he said.

“Tamil Nadu Circle, barring Chennai, has 71.6 lakh mobile connections, which is growing at the rate of 10 to 12 per cent year on year,” Sivaraj added.