- BSNL 4G Aims for Nationwide Launch by End of 2024
- BSNL’s 4G sites are already active in major metro cities and state capitals.
- The government has allocated significant funds to support BSNL’s network expansion.
BSNL, the state-owned Telecom company, has faced numerous challenges over the past few years. Despite these hurdles, the company is determined to roll out its BSNL 4G services nationwide by the end of 2024 and is planning to launch 5G services early next year. This initiative comes at a crucial time as major private telecom players like Bharti Airtel and Reliance Jio have already launched their 5G services, raising the stakes for BSNL to catch up.
A senior BSNL official shared that 4G sites are already operational in the four metro cities of Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Chennai. Additionally, sites in state capitals such as Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Lucknow, Raipur, and Chandigarh are also up and running. The company is making efforts to upgrade its existing base transceiver stations (BTS) in hilly states like Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, and Sikkim to 4G by September-end. A BTS is a fixed radio transceiver used in mobile networks, often seen as a tower.
BSNL 4G Services
The Indian government revealed that as of March-end, BSNL had approximately 67,340 towers nationwide, with 12,502 of these leased to private telecom operators. This year’s budget has allocated ₹82,916 crore to BSNL, aimed at supporting the company’s infrastructure and network expansion. BSNL is also expected to take over the operations of MTNL, which provides telecom services in Delhi and Mumbai, through an agreement with the government.
BSNL’s plans to launch 4G services come years after private telecom operators like Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel, and Vodafone Idea introduced their 4G networks. This delay has resulted in a shrinking customer base for BSNL, which currently stands at 86.32 million with a market share of 7.4% as of May-end. Many 2G users have migrated to 4G with other operators due to this delay.
Last year, BSNL’s board and a group of ministers approved a ₹24,500 crore contract for a TCS-led consortium, including CDOT and Tejas Networks, to supply 4G equipment for 100,000 new telecom towers. This contract also covers network gear worth ₹13,000 crore and a 10-year annual maintenance contract (AMC). Following this, BSNL issued an advance purchase order worth around ₹19,000 crore to TCS and ITI Limited in June 2023.
BSNL 4G services are expected to be upgraded to 5G by June 2024. The company has already begun testing 5G network equipment received from the Centre for Development of Telematics (CDOT). The government first announced a ₹69,000-crore revival package for BSNL and MTNL in October 2019. In 2022, a second revival package worth ₹1.64 trillion was approved, increasing BSNL’s authorized capital to ₹2.1 trillion. Additionally, the Cabinet approved the allocation of 4G and 5G spectrum to BSNL through equity infusion.
In June 2023, the Cabinet granted BSNL ₹89,047 crore as part of a third revival package. The budget for FY 2024-25 allocated ₹82,916 crore to BSNL, primarily to fund network expansion and pay for equipment. As a result of these capital infusion efforts, BSNL’s Earnings Before Interest, Tax, Depreciation, and Amortization (EBITDA) rose to ₹2,164 crore in FY24, up from ₹1,559 crore in the previous year. Despite remaining a loss-making entity, BSNL’s net losses have narrowed to ₹5,371 crore in FY24, the lowest in the past six years.
The continuous support from the government, combined with BSNL’s strategic planning and execution, aims to strengthen the company’s position in the telecom sector. BSNL’s successful rollout of 4G services by the end of 2024 and the subsequent launch of 5G services will be pivotal in its efforts to regain market share and attract customers.
In conclusion, BSNL is on a mission to revamp its services with the nationwide launch of its 4G network. The substantial financial backing from the government and the company’s focused efforts on infrastructure development are crucial steps toward this goal. By early next year, BSNL plans to introduce 5G services, aiming to provide competitive telecom solutions and regain its foothold in the market.
FAQ
What cities currently have BSNL 4G sites?
BSNL 4G sites are operational in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, and several state capitals including Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Lucknow, Raipur, and Chandigarh.
When will BSNL launch its 4G services nationwide?
BSNL 4G Aims for Nationwide Launch by End of 2024
When will BSNL introduce its 5G services?
BSNL plans to launch its 5G services early next year, following the successful rollout of 4G services.
Dear bro,
Is it provide to give details of bsnl towers in chennai area alone.
No data available for BSNL towers in the Chennai area. Please check with BSNL officials or use a BSNL SIM to get the most accurate and up-to-date information.
Thanks 🙂