Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) on Friday announced a new 4G and 5G Over-the-Air (OTA) and Universal SIM (USIM) platform. With this move, India’s state-owned telecom operator aims to improve service quality and connectivity in line with the Atmanirbahar Bharat initiative. With this launch, users can switch SIM cards freely without regional restrictions. The platform was developed in collaboration with telecommunications development company Pyro Holdings.
BSNL 4G, 5G compatible OTA platform
According to a post on BSNL’s X (formerly Twitter), the platform has been launched in Chandigarh and the disaster recovery site has been set up in Tiruchirappalli or Trichy in Tamil Nadu. The platform targets BSNL users across the country and aims to enhance the national provider’s telecom services and network capabilities.
This is intended to increase network speed and improve coverage across India. It also facilitates number portability and SIM card switching as users can switch SIM cards without geographical restrictions.
Ravi A. Robert Gerard, Chairman and Managing Director, BSNL, who announced the news, said, “This platform will be very useful for customers who want to change their SIM card without any geographical restrictions as they change their SIM card details or can change your SIM card. Useful for remote file management.
The platform will support both 4G and 5G networks in India, with the latter reportedly available six to eight months after BSNL reaches its 4G rollout target of March 2025. According to BSNL, it will help bridge the digital divide in rural and remote areas. It is also claimed to be in line with the Indian government’s Atmanirbahar Bharat initiative, which aims to make the people and the country self-reliant in all aspects.
According to reports, BSNL will complete the full rollout of 4G services by March 2025. Currently, the telco has installed 15,000 network towers in areas like Himachal Pradesh and UP West. According to reports, it plans to increase this amount by building another 80,000 towers by October this year. In addition, the cloud-based 4G core technology currently underlying the company’s network also has the potential to support 5G services.
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.