Combined revenue share of BSNL, MTNL at 8-year low

Drops to 4% in FY25 despite govt's ₹3.2 trillion bailout package

- SURAJEET DAS GUPTA

A government lifeline of over ₹3.2 trillion since 2019 has not helped lift Bharat Sanchar Nigam (BSNL) and Mahanagar Telephone Nigam (MTNL), whose combined revenue market share dropped to 4 per cent in 2024-25 (FY25)—their lowest level in eight years, since 2016-17 (FY17), according to a BofA Global research report.

The research agency based its findings on the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India's aggregate gross revenue data, divided by subscriber base. In FY17, BSNL/MTNL had a 9 per cent revenue share, which fell to 6 per cent in 2019 when the relief package was introduced. The figure edged up to 7 per cent in 2021 but declined again to 5 per cent in 2022-23 and further to 4 per cent in FY25.