Bangalore: Karnataka Telecom Circle would nearly double the number of base stations in the State to 251 by April, and is going in for an additional five lakh SIM card installed base to reach 8.5 lakh to give a major push to mobile communication, a senior Bharat Sanchar Nigam ltd (BSNL) official said today (Jan 27, 2004).

The circle's chief general manager K Padmanabhan said after the release of Bangalore telephone directory 2003-04 that mobile telephony services would be expanded to some 300 to 350 stations by adding 150.

"Mobile coverage on highways is being enhanced," he added.