BSNL 4G-LTE Review (Initial Launch)

I had already shared the update regarding BSNL 4G, which is getting live across the country. I found live BSNL 4G in my locality since beginning of September 2024. 

Now time to test the 4G-LTE network by BSNL. It's completely home-made tech i.e. Indian companies Tejas and TCS made this 4G tech exclusively for BSNL. The SIM cards BSNL is now selling all are 5G-ready - no need to upgrade the SIM when BSNL launches 5G in future. Telecom Minister expects BSNL 4G will go mainstream by middle of 2025. 

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As of now BSNL in Kolkata is offering 4G-LTE over 700MHz and 2100MHz band but 4G over 700MHz is used initially and 4G over 2100MHz is being tested. BSNL uses 10MHz spectrum for LTE-700 and only 5MHz for LTE-2100 but so far no LTE-A. Note that BSNL 3G is on 2100MHz so they had done some spectrum refarming to launch LTE-2100. Older smartphones did not support LTE-700, so check your phone before using a BSNL SIM card. 

BSNL 4G-LTE 700, using 10MHz

BSNL 4G on 2100 MHz using only 5MHz spectrum

The 4G network of BSNL needs lots of work to bring a smooth 4G experience. VoLTE is probably not available, so while making calls BSNL 4G shifts to 3G and this shifting is not smooth, and often calls dropped and sometimes no network. 

Coming to the speed, BSNL 4G is offering. I usually get around 10-30Mbps on 700/2100MHz band (indoor and outdoor both). Speedtest results may show something, but my experience was never below 8Mbps. 

fast.com - BSNL 4G Speedtest

Direct download via Opera @ 3.6MBps (upto 4.1MBps) which translates into 28.8-32.8 Mbps

However the speedtest results are not everything, but OpenSignal reports that average 5G download speeds dropped from 304 Mbit/s in Q1 2023 to 243 Mbit/s in Q2 2024 - that's due to network congestion = as 5G subscribers are increasing, and so the data usage. All thanks to smartphone makers who broke the price barrier for entry into 5G. Presently cheapest 5G smartphone - Redmi 13C 5G (4GB/128GB) comes at Rs 8,999 only! 6G/128G variant costs just Rs 10,999! It supports SA  (n1/n3/n5/n8/n28/n40/n78) and NSA (n1/n3/n40/n78/n8) both. (n1 - 2.1GHz, n3 - 1.8GHz, n5 - 850MHz, n8 - 900MHz, n28 - 700MHz, n40 - 2.3GHz, n78 - 3.5GHz) 

The OpenSignal report also notes that only 16% of Indian 5G users on 700MHz and 84% are on 3.5GHz band. 

Brief overview of BSNL 4G (beta) launch: 

1. BSNL 4G-LTE primarily uses 10MHz of 700MHz as of now. They also running trials using 5MHz of 2100MHz band (by refarming, as BSNL's 3G UMTS is running on 2100MHz band). BSNL has other bands too like 2500MHz and 1800MHz - I would say deploy 4G on these bands early, don't mess 3G too!

2. Average download speed is 10-30Mbps. Upload speed is around 2-8Mbps (based on my personal experience)

3. Though I saw BSNL using 2 different bands for LTE - there is no carrier aggregation i.e. LTE-A. (vs Vi using LTE-A using 20MHz 2.5GHz + 15MHz 1800MHz + 10MHz 2.1GHz + 5MHz 900MHz) 

4. VoLTE is not available, so calling goes via 3G - network switching is not smooth so far. Call drops are frequent. 

5. I note this launch as Beta launch, so sometime 4G goes completely off in same area where you're getting 4G signal. 

6. BSNL's 4G coverage is too patchy and not reliable. 

7. There is no different tariff of BSNL 4G - enjoy 4G data at 3G rate. Similar strategy was implemented by Jio during 4G/5G launch.