According to the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) is reportedly set to install an additional 100,000 4G towers across the country, following the successful deployment of its first 0.1 million towers this month.
The DoT will soon approach the cabinet for approval to proceed with the next phase of BSNL’s 4G rollout. BSNL has opted for indigenous 4G technology, in contrast to private telecom operators which depend on foreign vendors.
Earlier, in May 2023, BSNL had awarded a contract to a consortium led by Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), including Tejas Networks, the Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT), and ITI Limited. The contract covers the supply of 4G equipment for 100,000 towers, with network gear valued at Rs 130 billion, along with a 10-year annual maintenance agreement.
Acknowledging initial technical challenges with the domestically developed equipment, the DoT noted that performance has since improved significantly. It emphasised that while international vendors have decades of experience, BSNL’s indigenous technology is still in its early stages, with just two to three years of development.
In addition, BSNL has launched a crowdsourced branding campaign for its upcoming 5G services. The campaign invites the public to “Brainstorm BSNL 5G Name” and submit suggestions for naming the new 5G service.
