BSNL holds strategic importance for government: Scindia

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi government, which has approved over Rs 2.74 lakh crore financial package for the revival of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) in the past five years, considers the state-run telco as strategic importance, Union Minister for Communications Jyotiraditya Scindia said.

“BSNL holds strategic importance not only to the government but also to our customers. I am not just saying this because BSNL is a PSU but also because it is BSNL which, through its vast network, has always been at the forefront of providing affordable, reliable, and widespread connectivity,” the minister told DH.

 “Through its journey, BSNL has achieved several key milestones that have transformed the lives of ordinary citizens. From the fixed line services to expansion of 2G-3G-4G mobile & broadband services to Fiber to the Home services - it is BSNL that has enabled India to enjoy high-speed internet, powering education, business, and entertainment in an increasingly digital age,” he added.

According to latest data shared by the Ministry of Communications, the total size of the package approved for BSNL stands at Rs 274,740 crore. Out of this Rs 153,539 crore fund has been released so far.

The Modi government has infused a significant amount of capital for the revival of BSNL. The government has announced three revival packages for BSNL since 2019. The first revival package of Rs 69,000 crore was announced in October 2019 followed by Rs 1.64 lakh crore package in July 2022 and Rs 89,047 crore in June 2023. Out of which part of the financial support is also meant for MTNL. The government has allotted 4G and 5G spectrum to BSNL through equity infusion. The spectrum allocation is a part of the revival package.

Scindia said BSNL is preparing for the 5G deployment and the company plans to set up 100,000 fourth generation sites by mid 2025, which would be upgraded to the fifth generation connectivity.

 “From its 4G advancements to its preparation for 5G deployment, BSNL will continue to be a driving force behind India’s aspirations to become a global leader in telecommunications,” the minister said.

He added that BSNL is also leading India’s indigenous 5G vision by successfully doing trials of the indigenous fifth generation radio access network (RAN) and Core in both 3.6 GHz and 700 MHz bands.

The government-run telco has introduced the fourth generation (4G) services in some parts of the country and the nation-wide rollout is expected by the end of this year.

BSNL has lagged behind private players in deployment of next generation telecom services. The 5G services were launched in India in October 2022. In just around two years India has emerged as the second largest 5G market in the world. The 5G deployment in the country has been led largely by Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel.

Scindia, who took charge of the Ministry of Communications in June, has formed a performance monitoring unit to track the development of BSNL’s next generation technology deployment on a daily basis.

On Tuesday, BSNL launched a host of new customer centric services including spam-blocking solution, Wi-Fi roaming and Direct-to-Device (D2D) connectivity.

“We have launched a range of first-of-its-kind services of BSNL that will prove to be a game changer in providing secured, affordable and reliable telecom networks,” the minister said.  

Scindia expressed confidence that the new services would be the backbone of BSNL’s growth. “From introducing India's first 5G Captive Network to a robust Intranet Fiber LIVE TV, this new avatar will ensure that from now on BSNL will always remain at the forefront of technological innovation in India,” he added.