4G Rollout: A smart move in a 5G world

BSNL's 4G rollout aims to bridge affordability gaps in India's telecom market, catering to price-sensitive users amid rising tariffs and 5G challenges

- VERNIKA AWAL

India’s state-owned telecom operator, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), is gearing up for a nationwide 4G rollout by the end of this fiscal year with an infrastructure investment of Rs 19,000 crore (USD 2.25 billion). Industry experts see this as a timely move, coinciding wwith recent tariff hikes by private operators for 4G services. As BSNL prepares to offer more affordable, nationwide 4G coverage, the government’s substantial investment appears to be aimed at revitalising the operator and positioning it as a viable alternative in India’s telecom landscape.

The government has also initiated an extensive revival plan for BSNL, allocating Rs 82,916 crore (USD 9.9 billion) to boost its network operations and ensure a swift rollout. This effort includes daily performance targets and coordination with key players, such as Tejas Networks and Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), which is deploying BSNL's indigenous 4G technology stack. Experts believe this approach could help BSNL address a gap in the market, catering to customers priced out by private sector tariff hikes while avoiding direct competition in the high-cost 5G arena.

A BEHEMOTH'S RECOVERY PLAN

In July this year, Union Telecom Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia underlined the efforts to revive BSNL from a prolonged struggle to compete with private telecom giants Reliance Jio Infocomm and Bharti Airtel. "We are on track to have the 100,000 radio access networks in place for BSNL," Scindia announced, adding that the daily targets defined by the performance monitoring unit (PMU) will be monitored by Neeraj Mittal, Secretary, Department of Telecommunications (DOT).