CHAPTER 4
BUSINESS SERVICES
COMMUNICATION SERVICES
Communication can be defined as a process of exchange of ideas, facts, feelings, etc between two
or more people to create mutual understanding
Types of Communication Services
Communication services can be divided into-
1. Postal Services
2. Telecom Services
Postal services
Postal services are important for a modern business. Indian post and telegraph department provides
various postal services across India through 22 postal circles. These circles manage day-to-day
functioning of various head post offices, sub-post offices and branch post offices.
They offer various facilities for sending and receiving letters, parcels, money orders, samples, etc.
The postal department performs the following services:
1. Financial Facilities: These facilities are provided through the post office's savings schemes
like Public Provident Fund (PPF), Kisan Vikas Patra and National saving certificates. It
also performs banking functions of monthly income schemes, recurring deposits, saving
account, time deposits and money order facility.
2. Mail Facilities: Mail services consist of parcel facilities that is transmission of articles from
one place to another, registration facility to provide security of the transmitted articles and
insurance facility to provide insurance cover for all risks in the course of transmission by
post.
Postal Services
1. Under Postal Certificate (UPC): It refers to the postal certificate issued by the post office
as valuable evidence of posting the letter. When ordinary letters are posted, usually the post
office does not issue any receipt. However, if the sender wants to have a proof that he/she
actually posted the letter, then a certificate can be obtained from the post office on payment
of prescribed fee.
2. Registered: It refers to the that type of postal facility under which it is ensured that the
mail is delivered to the addressee otherwise it should come back to the sender. Registered
post mails are handed over to the post office after affixing additional postage as registration
charges. On receiving the mail, the post office issues a receipt to the sender as a proof. To
distinguish them from the ordinary post, all registered mails are super-scribed as
'Registered Post' on their face. The sender of a registered post may get acknowledgment of
delivery signed by the addressee. For this service, post office charges additional fee. The
prepayment of this is mandatory.
3. Parcel: It is a service of postal administration for sending parcels (e.g., cellphones, lek
garments, etc.) through the post across the country as well as outside the country. Post
offices provide the facility of sending parcel weighing upto 20kgs by parcel post. Parcels
weighing 4kg or more have got to be registered. Postal charges of parcels are quite
economical. A ped should be carefully packed and scaled so that the contents of the parcel
may remain in condition.
4. Speed Post: It refers to that type of postal facility under which mail reaches the address as
fast as possible. Under this facility, post offices provide time bound and guaranteed mail
delivery of letters, important documents, etc. This facility is available at specific post
offices The sender of mail has to pay extra charges for the speed post in addition to normal
post charges. The postal charges vary according to distance.
5. Courier Service: Courier service is provided by private post offices. Documents, parcels,
c can be sent through the courier service. This service is cheaper as compared to the
services provided by the post offices.
Telecom Services
World class telecommunications infrastructure is the key to rapid economic and social
development of the country. It is in fact the backbone of every business activity. In today's
world the dream of doing business across continents will remain a dream in the absence of
telecom infrastructure. There have been for reaching developments in the convergence of
telecom, IT, consumer electronics and media industries world-wide. Recognising the
potential in enhancing quality of life and to facilitate India's vision of becoming IT super
power by the year 2025, new Telecom Policy Framework 1999 and Broadband Policy 2004
were developed by the Government of India.
1. Cellular Mobile Services: These services include all kinds of mobile telecom services
including voice and non-voice messages, data services and PCO services. These can also
provide direct inter-connectivity with any other type of telecom service provider.
2. Fixed Line Services: These services include voice and non-voice messages and data
services to establish link for long distance traffic. These utilised any type of network
equipment primarily connected through fibre optic cables laid across the country. These
also offer inter-connectivity with other types of telecom services.
3. Cable Services: These are linkages and switched services within a licensed area of
operation to operate media services, which are essentially one way, entertainment related
services. These services are similar to providing fixed services.
4. VSAT Services: VSAT (Very Small Aperture Terminal) is a satellite-based
communication service. It offers business and government agencies a highly flexible and
reliable communication solution, in both urban and rural areas. VSAT offers reliable a nd
uninterrupted service, that is equal to or better than land-based services. It can be used to
provide innovative applications such as telemedicine, newspapers-on-line, market rates
and tele-education even in the most remote areas of our country.
5. DTH Services: DTH (Direct to Home) is again a satellite-based media services offered
by cellular companies. These services can be received directly through a satellite with the
help of a small dish antenna and a set top box. Tata Sky, Dish TV, Airtel, etc. offer DTH
service in India.
