BSNL has just lately concluded the set up of 100,000 towers for the availability of 4G companies nationwide
In sum – what to know:
BSNL plans subsequent 100,000 towers – State-run telco BSNL is getting ready to put in one other 100,000 4G towers after reaching its preliminary 100,000 towers throughout India.
TCS-led consortium powers rollout – BSNL’s community enlargement depends on homegrown tech from a consortium led by TCS and supported by Tejas Networks, C-DOT and ITI.
5G rollout – Latest experiences acknowledged that the telco will launch 5G companies as soon as its 4G providing is absolutely stabilized.
Indian state-owned telecom operator Bharat Sanchar Nigam Restricted (BSNL) is paving the way in which to deploy one other 100,000 4G towers throughout India, following the profitable set up of practically 100,000 towers, native press reported, citing India’s Minister of State for Communications Pemmasani Chandrasekhar.
In an interview with native newspaper The New Indian Specific, the minister revealed that the Division of Telecommunications (DoT) is planning to strategy the Union Cupboard for approval of the following section of BSNL’s 4G enlargement.
“After efficiently putting in 100,000 towers with optimum 4G tools, we are going to strategy the Cupboard and Prime Minister Narendra Modi to approve one other 100,000 towers,” he mentioned. “We additionally plan to extend BSNL’s money move, which is able to allow us to put in extra 4G and 5G tools and to monetize BSNL’s belongings,” the official added.
In Could 2023, the telco awarded a contract to a Tata Consultancy Companies (TCS)-led consortium, which incorporates Tejas Networks, the Heart for Improvement of Telematics (C-DOT) — the developer of BSNL’s 4G core — and ITI Ltd. The settlement covers the availability of 4G tools for 100,000 telecom towers. It additionally contains community parts, together with third-party parts and a 10-year annual upkeep contract.
When requested about early issues relating to the standard and efficiency of BSNL’s 4G tools, the minister acknowledged preliminary points however emphasised notable progress. “There have been some issues with the tools at first. However now, it’s functioning effectively. We count on it to function close to perfection by the tip of July or August subsequent yr,” he mentioned.
He additionally addressed the technological hole between BSML and world distributors: “Firms like Nokia and Ericsson have a legacy of 30 to 40 yr, whereas BSNL’s Indian-made tools is barely two to 3 years previous. We’re doing numerous optimization and fixes, which is able to lead to a high-quality product,” Chandrasekhar added.
Relating to BSNL’s capability to retain its buyer base, the minister highlighted the restrictions attributable to its present community infrastructure within the 4G discipline.
“One main limitation is that we at present have solely 100,000 4G towers. As compared, Reliance Jio and Airtel every have greater than 500,000 towers,” he mentioned.
He additional expressed confidence that the state-run telco will start regaining subscribers as soon as its 4G deployment is extra in depth. “When the 4G rollout occurs correctly, the telco will begin retaining the subscriber,” the minister acknowledged.
Latest experiences steered that the state-run telco may very well be able to launch its 5G community as early as June 2025, positioning the corporate to raised compete with non-public suppliers like Reliance Jio and Airtel, who already supply 5G companies in lots of elements of the nation.
BSNL is getting ready for a nationwide 5G rollout after reaching a stabilization of its ongoing 4G deployment, based on current experiences, which cited the nation’s Telecom Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, as saying.
Scindia confirmed that BSNL will change to 5G expertise solely after its 4G community is absolutely stabilized and meets service high quality requirements. “As soon as the 100,000 towers might be put up and the community is stabilized, as soon as we see that the QoS is up to speed, after which we begin switching. Transferring from 4G to 5G isn’t that tough,” he mentioned.
Additionally, the Indian authorities has dominated out overseas participation in BSNL’s 5G deployment.
To ship 5G SA companies, BSNL will make the most of the 900 MHz and three.3 GHz spectrum bands. Initially, the rollout will goal 100,000 subscribers, with plans to introduce 5G Fastened Wi-fi Entry (FWA) companies. The telco has already examined its 5G indigenous expertise at three areas in New Delhi — Nehru Place, Chanakyapuri and Minto Street.