BSNL to Launch 4G with Indigenous Gears, Jio too Switching to Desi

Despite multiple delays to launch 4G services, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) - the state owned telecommunications service provider is seemed to be on the track to roll out the much awaited 4G-LTE services across the circles very soon.

As per the deal signed in August 2023, Tejas Networks-led consortium would be delivering 4G sites to BSNL worth Rs 7492 crore. Initially there was extensive trials run across the circles. On May 5, 2025 Tata backed telecom gear firm Tejas Networks announced that the company shipped more than 100,000 sites for BSNL's 4G/5G-ready network. This is one of the largest single-vendor RAN networks in the world ever delivered in record time. 

Indian Telcos to Dilute Digital Divide between Rural and Urban Areas

Though sky is the limit, the urban wireless teledensity reached 124.31% and multi-SIM users are declining, the Indian telecom service providers are now looking for rural expansion as rural wireless teledensity was just 57.89% (Data at the end of December 2024).

Rural connectivity is now concentrated on access to OTT media, use of social media, content creation over different sites/apps, UPI payments. But data usage is still limited, and in coming days the usage may go sky-rocketed with carpet-coverage. In short as you offer, people will grab it more. 

For Jio, it has an advantage that it started with 4G and therefore Jio's 4G presence is quite better than the competitors, as both Airtel and Vi had ditched their 3G operations, and looking for 2G sunset which can't be done before 2027 and brought 4G and 5G in selected pockets where revenue generation is high. 

Smaller Passive Infrastructure Providers Reshaping Indian Telecom

Despite the tower companies of India are going through several merger and acquisition, there are some new companies entered in the market - Suyog Telematics Ltd., Signotox Towers Pvt. Ltd., Pratap Technocrats, SAR Televentures, CloudExtel etc.

These companies are looking into new verticals of tower industries for generating revenues from telecom service providers. Innovative solutions from these companies can be cost-effective and energy-efficient. 

Report by Avendus predicts that in next 5 years capital expenditure in the digital infra space might go up to $35-50 billion. They also noted four major trends to drive this expenditure are: in-building solutions (IBS), outdoor small cells (ODSC), data centres (DCs), and fibre networks.

Revival of BSNL, deployment of 4G and 5G tech in their network and Vi's plans to expand 4G and enter into 5G space are also good news for these newcomers despite the presence of big companies like Altius (2.75L towers) and Indus Towers (2.5L towers) and mid-level players like GTL Infrastructure with 26,000 towers and Ascend Telecom with around 18,600 towers.

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 4G: ETA Unknown

On 15th August, 2024 BSNL announced that the state-run telco has deployed more than 15000+ 4G BTS across the country under Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative - the image you can see on the left was shared from BSNL's X (formerly Twitter) handle. 

However the target was 20,000 BTS installation. At the same time 'The Hindu Business Line' pointed out that DoT's Tarang website shows BSNL has only 10,000 active 4G BTS. 

BSNL's 4G service has been a long-due. Airtel was first Indian telecom operator to launch 4G services in 2012 in Kolkata. Spectrum and choosing equipment vendor were many of few roadblocks for the PSU. 

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. 

BSNL Starts 4G Journey in Kolkata & West Bengal

After a long wait, state owned telecom service provider BSNL starts their 4G-LTE services in Bengal starting from Kolkata on 15th May, 2024.

First 4G BTS is launched in Ballygunge exchange. Mass scale 4G launch in Kolkata telecom circle would take another month, while BSNL would take 4G to atleast 50 cities of Bengal circle in next 2 months. PSU telco expects to provide full 4G coverage across the state within a year. 

Initially BSNL expects for rolling out 8-10 4G BTS daily in Kolkata circle. Already they have 300 BTS in hand. Phase I will have 1671 BTS installations and phase II will have 325 BTS deployment in Kolkata circle. Rest of Bengal will get a total of 3131 4G BTS in phased manner. 

Jio's WiFi Networks being Powered by Mojo

Jio since its begining is pushing its WiFi offering - the JioNet. Jio's public WiFi helps them to offload LTE data, and clutter off the network, also helps to serve into offices, educational institutes i.e. enterprise segment. 

Interestingly Jio expressed that the company is considering WiFi not as simple as an additional services (as during 2G period), rather it is a partner technology with Jio's pure play LTE based mobility strategy. Jio is now nearly having 2,00,000 hotspots running across the country. Jio and other Indian carriers have already launched Voice over LTE and VoWiFi technology - so offloading voice over WiFi is also in their strategy to overcome mobile signal coverage issues. WiFi calling is quite successful as Airtel and Jio saw the market response. However limited handsets support VoWiFi as of now. 


Also offering WiFi means better utilization of Jio's existing Fiber network. 

BSNL WiFi 4G Plus - Data Offload from Cellular Networks !

Back in the era of pre Jio, a handful of service providers came with public WiFi Hotspot services, like Ozone WiFi, Tata Docomo WiFi. They were mostly available in shopping malls, restaurants, coffee shops etc. Their pricing model was use free for 30-60 min, and then pay for it. As Jio nearing to launch their 4G services commercially, Jio also launched its own WiFi services - JioNet. However​ Jionet is mostly defunc now.

As 4G mobility goes mass spread, people almost stopped using WiFi hotspots. But the thing came back strongly. Ozone, the leader in this market was lost in the transition but Google and Indian Railways' telecom arm Railtel created a massive WiFi hotspot network. Google Station, as it's named was a pilot by Google and its partner Railtel started in 2016 targeting the audience who are travelling by trains. This WiFi networks are located at major rail stations of India. Later Google was roped in by Pune Smart City Corporation for similar public WiFi offerings. 

Back in 2012-14 I was pushing for this thing for data offload from mobile network to WiFi. Thankfully with massive data users after 4G went mainstream, telecom operators are thinking in that direction. BSNL is one of first telecom company to offer public WiFi.

(Press Release) BSNL Improves Customer Experience with EverestIMS Solution

BSNL Madhya Pradesh improves it's Customer Service Experience; Ensures 99% SLA Adherence with EverestIMS

EverestIMS ensured minimal downtime, real-time monitoring and hawk-eye view of the entire BSNL network across Madhya Pradesh, thereby creating satisfied and happy customer base yet again, for another Telco giant in India.

BENGALURU, India - July 31, 2018: EverestIMS Technologies Pvt Ltd (Everest), an Indian software product company specialized in providing software offerings for Unified IT Infra Management and ITSM, this time has successfully equipped the most prominent Indian Telco brand, BSNL with a one-stop solution. Everest's integrated solution, Infrastructure Management Suite (IMS) and ITILv3 based Ticketing Engine (Service Manager) helped BSNL to ensure maximum service quality along with SLA management.

 

BSNL, was earlier facing major hassles in managing business IT network present across multiple locations in Madhya Pradesh (MP). The BSNL network service link connectivity is spread across thousands of locations within the state through two of its prestigious clients, namely MP SWAN and MP High Court. However, in no time, customers started to complain about disrupted services, interrupted connectivity and heavy downtime -raising serious questions on the quality of services being provided by BSNL.

What is ASHTAMANGAL Project under Telecom Ministry of India

BSNL with its social responsibility is working to connect remote parts of the country. To connect the north eastern states with high speed broadband Union Ministry had made a project. The project, part of the Comprehensive Telecom Development Plan for the North-Eastern Region (NER) to connect all 7 states of north east India was approved by Union Cabinet in September 2014 and BSNL got it by April 2016. The whole project is being funded by the Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF). 

The project became a part of Digital India, a dream plan by PM Narendra Modi and it got rebranded as 'Ashtamangal' which includes 7 NE states (Assam, Tripura, Manipur, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Nagaland) and Sikkim. BSNL Social Media posted a video on Ashtamangal project on January 19, 2018: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1DbZLbG11s 

The phase I of Ashta Mangal project was completed on 16th of July 2018 as connectivity has been provided from Kolkata to Guwahati (Assam) and to other Seven State Headquarters of the region (NE) Shillong, Aizwal, Agartala, Itanagar, Dimapur, Kohima, Imphal, Tezpur and Nagaon using optical fibre power ground wire (OPGW). Gangtok has been connected to Siliguri and Kolkata. The cost was Rs 100 cr. Bandwidth of this region is up-graded by additional 810 Gbps by this project. Out of the 11,970 gram panchayats in North East, 5858 were taken up in the first phase and 2281 gram panchayats are Service Ready. 

The project of Ashtamangal also includes setting up 6994 towers to provide connectivity to 8621 villages and along the national highways at a cost of Rs 5336 crore.

The phase II of Ashta Mangal project, estimated cost of Rs 430 cr will connect District Headquarters, other cities and State Headquarters in North-East Region. The govt. of India wants the phase II to be completed by end of 2018. 

[Press Release] BSNL and Coriant Enter Into Agreement to Chart Path to 5G and IOT in India

BSNL and Coriant Enter into Agreement to Chart Path to 5G and IoT in India

Memorandum of Understanding Lays Foundation for Innovation in Network Architectures and Services Leveraging 5G, IoT, SDN/NFV, and Mobile Edge Computing Technologies

New Delhi, 06 September 2017: India’s leading Telecom Operator Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited today entered into an Agreement with Coriant to Chart Path to 5G and IoT in India. The Memorandum of Understanding was signed between BSNL and  Coriant for Laying Foundation for Innovation in Network Architectures and Services Leveraging 5G, IoT, SDN/NFV, and Mobile Edge Computing Technologies.

Coriant, a leading supplier of packet optical, IP, and SDN solutions to Tier 1 global service providers and web-scale Internet operators, and Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), one of the leading telecommunication operators in India, today announced they have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to closely collaborate on the exploration of 5G and related technologies in the India networking ecosystem. Under the terms of the MoU, Coriant and BSNL will cooperate to accelerate network architecture and service innovation leveraging 5G, Internet of Things (IoT), SDN/NFV, and Mobile Edge Computing (MEC) technologies.

Internal Letters Confirms Jio-BSNL Deal

Back in August 2014 media reported about BSNL-Jio deal that Jio will lease out BSNL's 40,000 towers for 4G roll out.

However none of the parties said anything on the deal. There was no press release from Jio. Anyway with several supported documents it seems that Jio's deal with BSNL is beyond just towers.

Jio is leasing out data links - P2P links of 45Mbps in north east. As the internal letters of BSNL reveals that on 04/12/2014 Jio asked for 4 x 45Mbps P2P links in Manipur (2 arranged at first), 2 in Nagaland (none arranged), and 7 in Arunachal Pradesh (only 1 arranged). On 23/12 GM BSNL sent letters to respective SSAs to take care of the issues personally.

My Hands-On With All GSM Data Services in Kolkata

With two 3G modems at hand – ZTE MF190 and Huawei E1550 I tried all available GSM players available at Kolkata circle. Both the dongles support 3G though ZTE MF190 supports upto 7.2Mbps, while Huawei E1550 supports upoto 3.6Mbps downlink speed. I did experimenting with their 2G packs and come to an conclusion that Uninor & BSNL is best at my home place, Barrackpore. I did not try my hands with 3G players, as they are costly and beyond the reach of most users.

Disclaimer: This view is absolutely of mine, and based upon

BSNL Broadband - what we can expect from new Govt.

Well Lok Sabha Election is over, and Maran may be back as Minister. This is Dayanidhi Maran who announced India will get free broadband of 2Mbps around 2012. And during his time we had BSNL upgraded broadband bandwidth 2Mbps from 256kbps and become the most affordable broadband service provider. 

Well I am talking about BSNL broadband plans. At present what people want from BSNL :

Bandwidth upgradation ( uplink and downlink both stream ) :
those who are on 256kbps Unlimited plans,want speed to be increased atleast 512kbps @ same price or speed upto 2mbps. UL users are not asking for 8Mbps connection

but those who are on night UL plans ( 500, 500c,500c+ etc etc) asking fo bandwidth increase for upto 8Mbps, [ FYI BSNL has ADSL technology on which 8Mbps is maximum bandwidth], if not 4Mbps will do good.

upload speed should be increased as per download speed.

Cheaper Plans: Lower tariffs - but i think if bandwidth,free usage n more night hours is introduced , there will not be no reduction of tariff.

More free usage : that time free usage increased 2.5 times. so expecting 1GB->2.5GB,1.5GB-> 4GB,2.5GB->6GB like this.

Night free hours upto 8 hours a day - instead of 2AM - 8AM, it would be 0000-0800hrs.

Well I am listening about more bandwidth and changing night free hours for a long time from BSNL officials, but still not implemented ! hope now it will be soon implemented !