HIGHLIGHTS
- The BSNL 4G deployment has been planned for some time.
- Major telecoms have begun conducting 5G experiments.
- BSNL is trying to compete with commercial telecom carriers.
Devusinh Chauhan, Minister of State for Communications, stated at the Rajya Sabha's Question Hour on Friday that Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) will soon have 4G services. For the past few years, India's state-owned telecom provider has struggled to compete with private businesses. Due to financial and customer losses, the government decided to merge BSNL with Mahanagar Telecom Nigam Limited (MTNL). During Question Hour, the minister also stated that 5G services will be available in India by the end of this year.
"The 4G service on BSNL would commence very soon, almost by the end of this year," Chauhan stated during the Question Hour in response to Uttar Pradesh MP Kunwar Rewati Raman Singh - without providing a specific timetable. The minister also stated that the government is attempting to improve telecom network service.
Unlike other telecom companies, BSNL does not have pan-India 4G coverage. In 2019, the telecom expects to finish its 4G deployment in 2020. In addition, a tender for 50,000 4G stations was scheduled for late 2019. However, in 2020, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) cancelled BSNL's 4G tender. It also allegedly planned to exclude Chinese businesses from the operator's 4G procurement.
In a previous Question Hour in February, Chauhan stated that BSNL could compete with commercial telecom service providers and had 10.15 percent of all telephone users in the country. He also mentioned that the operator's loss fell to Rs. 7,441 crore in 2020–21, down from Rs. 15,500 crore in 2019–20.
According to latest Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) figures, BSNL has over 11.43 crore wireless users in the country, with over 11.75 lakh added in December.
In addition to discussing BSNL's 4G deployment, Chauhan stated that the government plans to provide 5G services in the country by the end of this year. He stated that the country already has 98 percent coverage for mobile connection.
Airtel, Jio, and Vi (Vodafone Idea) are undertaking 5G trials in the nation and collaborating with telecom equipment makers to launch their services for the next-generation cellular technology.
