Here's when BSNL will launch its 5G services
Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), the state-owned telecommunications company, has announced plans to introduce its 5G services in India. The launch is expected to occur within six to eight months following the completion of a nationwide 4G rollout in March 2025. This information was revealed to Moneycontrol by an anonymous government official, who also disclosed that existing 4G sites would be upgraded for 5G compatibility through minor card replacements and software updates.
BSNL's 4G network to power upcoming 5G services
BSNL's current cloud-based architecture, which powers its 4G network, will also be used for the upcoming 5G services. This was confirmed by another official and demonstrated during a successful test 5G call made by the telecom minister using the same core on a live 4G network. BSNL has already installed over 15,000 4G towers across Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, UP (West) and Haryana with plans to increase this number to around one lakh towers by March 2025.
BSNL awards contracts for 4G network deployment
BSNL has awarded contracts worth ₹19,000 crore to Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Tejas Networks, and government-owned ITI for the deployment of the upgradable 4G network. On August 10, BSNL announced its plan to roll out an over-the-air (OTA) and Universal SIM (USIM) platform compatible with both 4G and 5G services. This platform will allow subscribers to choose their mobile numbers and replace SIMs without geographical restrictions.
BSNL aims for 25% market share by end of 2025
Under the new leadership of Robert Jerard Ravi, BSNL is aiming to secure a 25% subscriber market share by the end of 2025. The company is prioritizing the expedited rollout of 4G/5G services to reduce subscriber churn and enhance service quality. Despite a fall in market share to just 7.4%, BSNL has seen early signs of comeback following recent tariff hikes by private telecom operators. Within 15 days of tariff hikes, 250,000 customers have ported to BSNL from other telcos.
Government sets up unit to monitor BSNL's 4G rollout
To meet the March 2025 target, a project management unit is being set up to monitor BSNL's 4G rollout daily. Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia has also stated that he and the telecom secretary will personally oversee BSNL's daily targets. The government has allocated ₹3.2 trillion in three revival packages for technology upgradation and restructuring at BSNL. In FY24, BSNL reduced its net loss to ₹5,367 crore from ₹8,161 crore in FY23 due to lower expenses and increased non-operating income.
