State-owned telecom company Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) has achieved its target of rolling out 4G nationwide by March 2025 and plans to launch 5G services within six to eight months. According to government officials, the Indian government has set an ambitious target for BSNL to capture 25 percent subscriber market share by the end of 2025.
4G deployment and 5G preparation
The government has set an internal deadline of March 2025 to ensure full 4G network coverage across the country. After this milestone, BSNL plans to launch 5G services within 6 to 8 months. Existing 4G sites would be upgraded to 5G through small card swaps and software upgrades, a senior official said on condition of anonymity.
The current 4G core technology that powers the BSNL network also supports the 5G network. The cloud-based architecture is compatible with various hardware configurations and ensures a smooth transition to 5G. Recently, the Communications Minister successfully established a 5G call using this core over an active 4G network in Haryana, further demonstrating the capabilities of the system.
Progress in the rollout of 4G
BSNL has already set up 15,000 4G towers in regions like Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, UP West and Haryana. The company plans to increase this number to 80,000 masts by the end of October 2024 and complete the construction of an additional 21,000 masts by March 2025. This will help National Telecom Corporation achieve its goal of setting up 100,000 4G towers on time. .
To support this massive rollout, BSNL has signed contracts worth Rs 19,000 crore with Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Tejas Networks and ITI, a state-owned company. These contracts accelerate the deployment of 4G networks that can be seamlessly upgraded to 5G (Telecom Talk reports).
Expanding services and increasing the number of subscribers
BSNL on August 10 announced plans to launch 4G and 5G Over-the-Air (OTA) and Universal SIM (USIM) platforms. This new service increases the user’s convenience with the ability to choose a mobile number and change SIM cards without geographical restrictions.
Under the new leadership, BSNL has set a target of achieving 25% subscriber market share by the end of 2025. BSNL’s newly appointed CMD Robert Gerald Ravi has prioritized rapid rollout of 4G and 5G services to reduce subscriber churn and achieve improvements. Quality of service
Financial performance and market position
Despite the recent challenges, BSNL is showing early signs of revival. BSNL has seen an influx of low-income and credit-worthy subscribers following tariff hikes by private operators. In the first 15 days after the price hike, 250,000 customers switched to BSNL from other telecom operators.
To ensure that the 4G rollout stays on track, the government has set up a Project Management Unit (PMU) to monitor BSNL’s progress on a daily basis. Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia has promised to personally monitor BSNL’s daily targets along with the Telecom Minister.
State support and future prospects
BSNL has been allocated Rs 3,200 crore in three turnaround packages, reflecting the government’s efforts to restructure the loss-making company. In Budget 2024-25, the Department of Communications (DoT) allocated Rs 83,416 crore to BSNL for capital infusion, technology modernization and restructuring.
While BSNL’s private rivals Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel have already completed the rollout of 5G networks across the country, BSNL is all set to enter the 5G market within months of launching 4G and emerge as a major player in To position India’s emerging telecommunications environment.
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.
