BSNL finally passes halfway mark with 4G deployment

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The state-owned telco has reportedly deployed over 50,000 4G sites nationwide,

Today, India’s Ministry of Communications has announced that state-run telco Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) has successfully deployed over 50,000 4G sites across the country, around 41,000 of which are currently operational.

This represents half of the 100,000 sites that the company estimates will be required to achieve national coverage of its new network.

The deployments have been completed using equipment solely from Indian vendors, supporting the government’s Atma Nirbhar Bharat (Self-Reliant India) initiative. Participating vendors include Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Tejas Networks, the Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT), and ITI Ltd.

The announcement marks a significant acceleration of BSNL’s 4G rollout in recent months, with around 25,000 of the total sites deployed in the last quarter alone.

But while BSNL’s 4G rollout now seems to be happening apace, it is worth noting how heavily delayed this process has been. The company had initially targeted nationwide coverage and a commercial launch for 4G by December 2023, but various operational challenges have seen the rollout delayed three times.

In fact, earlier this month BSNL moved the goalposts once again, suggesting that the company is now targeting nationwide 4G by June 2025.

The company’s ambitions with regard to 4G market share have also been revised; the company had initially been targeting a 20% 4G market share by the end of 2024, but the numerous delays mean the company is now aiming for a 25% market share by the end of 2025.

Interestingly, BSNL says that it will be able to upgrade all of its sites to 5G within a month of the June deadline, having already conducted trials of the new technology in New Delhi.

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