Vodafone Idea Struggles While BSNL Rebounds

BSNL's turnaround highlights challenges as government signals no more bailouts for struggling Vodafone Idea.

- TBG NETWORK

In July 2022 the government's announcement of a package to revive the state-owned Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) was accompanied by raised eyebrows, memes and jokes.

The question everyone asked at that point was why the government opened the taxpayers' revenue purse to aid a loss-making public sector company, which by all measures, just did not have the smarts to stand alongside private sector giants where innovation, consumer centricity and value-added services were the driving motif of business and growth.

Cut to 2025, BSNL reported a profit of Rs 280 crore for the fourth quarter ended March 31, 2025, marking its second consecutive quarterly profit. This is the first time in 18 years it reported back-to-back quarterly net profits.

Contrast this with a private sector global mega brand—Vodafone Idea—conveys a telling tale. Vodafone Idea. The third largest telecom company has been saddled with losses, with its balance sheet making for a very worrisome reading.