BSNL Brings New Logo with the Hope for Better Future

BSNL New Logo (October 2024)

Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL), the state owned telecommunication company is all set to rise from the almost-ashes. Thanks to present government of India, Union cabinet approved a revival package of Rs 89,047 crore for the 4th telco of the country. BSNL was suffering for continuous losses for last 12 years due to debts, poor infrastructure and several red tapes of bureaucracy. 

While Airtel launched 4G services in 2012, BSNL is right now launching 4G across the country - that's 12 years late!

BSNL 5G May Come Earlier: Indian Start Ups Plan Trials on BSNL's 700MHz Spectrum

Government backed telecom service provider - BSNL, who, though late, is presently busy with 4G roll out across the country, may bring 5G before the expected date. Home grown Tejas and TCS backed BSNL's 4G network core can be upgraded to 5G easily. 

Airtel started 4G in 2012, and Jio brought it in 2016, but both companies launched 5G commercially in 2022. BSNL is just gearing up for 4G roll out in almost middle of 2024. Considering Airtel's entry in 4G space, BSNL 4G is just 12 years late. But recent tariff hike by Airtel, Jio and Vi made the customers to look into BSNL's plans and many are porting to BSNL, despite having only 3G offering in most places. 

5G India: New Updates

With 5G technology, Indian service providers have got ample of opportunities. Many experts believe that India has fastest large-scale deployment of 5G infrastructure in the world. 

First Jio or Airtel started with OpenRAN architecture - where hardware is kept compatible with other softwares too (like you bought HP laptop, which comes with Windows, but you uninstalled it, and installed Ubuntu Linux). 

BSNL 5G by mid-2024 

State owned operator BSNL did not depend on Chinese vendors (Huawei and ZTE) for 4G roll out - the contract went to Tata Consultancy Services led consortium. The advanced purchase order (APO) for deployment of 4G network across India on behalf of BSNL is valued over Rs 15,000 crore. The consortium includes government-owned Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DoT) and Tata Group owned Tejas Networks. BSNL's West Zone's 4G deployment will be done by Central govt. backed ITI. This contract is worth ₹3,889 crore. 

India's telecom minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, by the end of May, announced that BSNL 4G will go live in 2 months, and 5G upgrade will be started in November-December of 2023, and 5G from BSNL will go masses by March 2024 - which I personally believe unachievable. BSNL may launch 4G commercially at Q4 of 2023, and that home made 4G-5G stack BSNL is deploying will be upgraded to 5G/NR by middle of 2024.