Government owned telecommunications operator BSNL (Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited) has announced that it will provide 4G network services by the end of 2024 and 5G network services in 2025. For this purpose, it has prepared nearly 12,000 4G towers. Against this backdrop, the number of users on it has started to increase. According to a senior official, "4G sites are operational in all four metro cities—Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Chennai. Additionally, sites are active in Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Lucknow, Raipur, Chandigarh, and most state capitals."
BSNL is preparing to upgrade most of its Base Transceiver Stations (BTS) for 4G. Currently, BSNL has 88.84 million users, and this number is now rapidly increasing.
Reasons for Rise of BSNL
- In the 2024 economic budget, the central government, through the Ministry of Finance, will provide ₹1.28 lakh crore in funding for telecommunications projects and public companies in the telecommunications sector. Of this, ₹1 lakh crore is allocated for BSNL and MTNL, with ₹82,916 crore specifically for technological upgrades and restructuring. Overall, the government is providing special assistance for the revitalization of it in the telecommunications sector.
- A ₹15,000 crore deal has been made between India’s renowned IT services company TCS (Tata Consultancy Services) and BSNL. According to reports, TCS and the government agency C-DOT will deploy 4G network solutions developed in India. It is believed that this will bring good days for it.
- India’s Department of Telecommunications is on the verge of granting a Satellite Global Mobile Personal Communication (GMPCS) license to ‘Starlink‘. Starlink’s services are owned by Elon Musk’s SpaceX company. According to reports, Starlink’s satellite internet in India can provide internet speeds of up to 300 Mbps, which is much higher than the required 94.62 Mbps download speed and 58.62 Mbps upload speed for mobile, potentially increasing BSNL’s speed significantly.
History of BSNL
Once, BSNL was a prominent and dominant company in the telecom sector. In 2008-09, it’s revenue was ₹35,811.92 crore.
In 2007, BSNL (Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited) was involved in a scandal that implicated the then Union Minister Dayanidhi Maran. He was accused of misusing government resources to connect private fiber optic cables, particularly to obtain free high-speed internet services at his residence and office in Chennai using BSNL’s network. This misuse of government resources led to significant financial losses for it.
In 2008 scam became one of the major telecom scandals in India. This scam involved high-ranking BSNL officials and some private companies. It primarily revolved around the allocation of 2G spectrum.
The main issues in the scam included corruption in spectrum allocation, providing spectrum to private companies at lower prices, and violating regulations. This scam caused significant financial losses for BSNL and raised questions about transparency and integrity in the telecom sector.
Former Union Telecom Minister A. Raja was arrested for his role in this scam. The CBI investigated the case and filed charges against several accused individuals.
This scandals had a profound impact on the functioning of the telecom industry and government policies in the country.
Conclusion
The 2007 scandal highlighted the severity of misuse of government resources and the consequences of corruption. This incident led to significant financial losses for BSNL and placed a burden on both the government and public treasury. However, the announcements of 4G and 5G networks in 2024 and 2025 signal a resurgence for. With financial support from the government and collaboration with reputed companies like Tata Consultancy Services, it is on the path to technological improvement.
Starlink’s satellite internet services are also expected to significantly enhance BSNL’s internet speeds. These advancements position strengthen its presence in the Indian telecom sector once again. As a result of these efforts, BSNL’s user base is rapidly growing, creating an optimistic outlook for the company’s future in the telecom industry.
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