Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) has deployed nearly 7,500 4G mobile towers in Tamil Nadu under the Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN – formerly known as Universal Service Obligation Fund, USOF). The indigenous 4G stack has been rolled out at over 100,000 sites nationwide, including in Tamil Nadu.
Further, in the state, 19 sites have been upgraded to 4G across four districts comprising Chennai, Kancheepuram, Tiruvallur, and Chengalpattu, while villages in Salem, Cuddalore, Vellore, Madurai, and Erode are planned to be covered.
Furthermore, the chief general manager (CGM) of BSNL Tamil Nadu and Chennai telephones said that 289 villages were initially identified as lacking 4G coverage under the USOF project. Based on this, BSNL plans to install new towers at 222 locations and upgrade 35 locations to 4G where a 2G network already exists. The total project cost is Rs 2,450 million.
BSNL also plans to extend 4G services to remote areas including the Nilgiris, Sathyamangalam forest, Kolli Hills, Yercaud, Pachamalai, Kalvarayan Hills, Javadhumalai, and Melur slope. Under this project, new sites will have full infrastructure support, including round-the-clock electricity, solar panels, batteries, and power plants for the towers.
Additionally, BSNL has cleared a new list of 49 sites to improve 4G coverage across Coimbatore, Erode, Madurai, Dharmapuri, Salem, and Vellore, for which land identification and acquisition are under way.
