Sanjay Singh / New Delhi
State-run telecom company, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) is banking heavily on 4G rollout to match up and compete with private telecom companies.
To fill the widening gap in operations and network optimization, BSNL since last year is rolling out its 4G network. Infact, BSNL has facing immense pressure from the data tariff war which was kick-started by Mukesh Ambani’s telecom firm, Reliance Jio (RJIL) in 2016.
The company though optimistic but apprehensions are there about how well will BSNL be able to match and compete with private telcos, especially when they have been operating in the 4G space since last three years.
BSNL had initially announced 4G rollout for its subscribers Karnatakacircle. BSNL had announced in June 2018stated that it would be rolling out the 4G network in as much as 130 cities in the state.
In September 2018, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) at last cleared BSNL’s plans of acquiring 4G airwaves. For this, BSNL submitted and compiled a detailed report to get the 2,100 MHz band of 4G airwaves for rolling out 4G services. The total spectrum cost was at the tune of Rs 13,885, of which BSNL had sought Rs 6,652 in the form of equity infusion from the government, which BSNL had committed to pay during the next ten years.
Besides Karnataka, BSNL has also been proactively involved to develop 4G network in other states of South India. Like in Kerala, BSNL is offering 4G and 2G network instead of 3G in almost all cities. BSNL is also offering 4G services in 11 districts of Andhra Pradesh and 25 towns of Telangana.
Not only Southern Indian states, BSNL has also got 4G spectrum at Chhattisgarh, Central Maharashtra, a larger part of Nagpur, Gujarat, Pune and adjoining areas.The use of five additional units on the 2,100 MHz spectrum has also given a boost to BSNL’s 4G network.
