The formal launch of BSNL’s 4G services on India-made technology marks a historic milestone for the state-owned telecom operator and the country’s digital ecosystem. With more than 97,500 towers rolled out across India—92,600 of them powered by BSNL’s indigenous 4G stack—the company is not only expanding its coverage to 20 million users but also strengthening India’s place in the global telecom manufacturing arena.
Expanding 4G Coverage, Bridging Connectivity Gaps
The 4G rollout holds particular significance for unconnected regions. Over 26,700 villages—including those in border areas and left-wing extremism-affected zones—will now gain reliable mobile access. Communications minister Jyotiraditya Scindia emphasized that this achievement makes India the fifth nation globally to design and manufacture telecom equipment, with BSNL joining the ranks of just six companies worldwide to achieve this feat.
While BSNL has already tested 5G in select cities such as Chandigarh and Ambala, its immediate priority is to stabilize and perfect 4G services nationwide before gradually upgrading to 5G.
Private 5G and Enterprise Opportunities
Alongside mobile expansion, BSNL is eyeing enterprise growth through private 5G deployments. Chairman and MD Robert Ravi highlighted the immense potential in captive non-public networks (CNPNs) and edge data centers.
Private 5G networks—already piloted at Coal India and being developed for Numaligarh Refinery—enable mission-critical communications, vehicle tracking, and safety systems. With ticket sizes ranging from ₹20–50 crore, enterprises in mining, ports, and refineries are increasingly exploring dedicated private networks to boost efficiency and security.
To support these ambitions, BSNL is also moving into managed cloud services through edge data centers, ensuring faster, more secure enterprise connectivity.
Government Support and Future Investments
The rollout is backed by robust government support. The Cabinet-approved revival package sanctioned 100,000 tower sites at a cost of ₹19,592 crore, while BSNL spent ₹25,000 crore in FY25 to deploy its 4G network. The government has also committed a ₹47,000 crore capex boost, with another ₹6,000 crore earmarked for 20,000 additional tower sites.
BSNL’s indigenous stack was co-developed by Tejas Networks and C-DOT, with TCS serving as system integrator. This homegrown ecosystem underscores India’s strategic push for telecom self-reliance.
Profitability and Market Outlook
After posting back-to-back quarterly profits for the first time in 18 years, BSNL slipped into a ₹1,049 crore loss in the June quarter of FY25. Analysts warn that high capital expenditure and depreciation costs will challenge profitability sustainability. Instead, focus is shifting to operating profits and Ebitda.
BSNL currently holds a 7.7% share of India’s telecom market with 90.36 million subscribers. While its average revenue per user (ARPU) of ₹40–175 lags far behind Jio’s ₹208 and Airtel’s ₹250, the rollout of robust 4G services and entry into private 5G could boost future revenues.
Collaboration Will Define Private 5G’s Success
Industry voices stress that collaboration between telecom operators, system integrators, and device makers is essential to accelerate private 5G adoption. Spectrum pricing remains a critical hurdle, with enterprises pushing for cost-based models to make CNPNs affordable.
As India steps firmly into the global telecom equipment manufacturing league, BSNL’s dual focus on expanding mobile connectivity and leading private 5G deployments places it at the center of the nation’s digital transformation. The challenge ahead will be sustaining profitability while competing with aggressive private players in both consumer and enterprise markets.
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