BSNL Network Gains Speed, Installs More than 50,700 4G Sites, 5G Service to Launch Next Year

Government telecom company Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) has rapidly expanded its 4G network in the last few months. By the end of October this year, the company had installed more than 50,700 4G sites. Of these, more than 41,950 sites are working. It is also giving competition to private telecom companies with affordable tariff plans.

Minister of State for Communications Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar said in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha that the 4G equipment being used by BSNL can be upgraded to 5G. He said that under the ‘Self-reliant India’ campaign, the supply of 4G equipment to BSNL started in September last year. As of October, the company had installed 50,708 4G sites and 41,957 sites are operational. The company had hired Boston Consulting Group (BCG) to suggest business improvement strategies. BCG has submitted an interim report in this regard to the company.

BSNL’s net loss has come down to about Rs 2,785 crore in the first half of the current financial year. In the same quarter of the last financial year, this loss was about Rs 2,951 crore. BSNL has gained lakhs of new subscribers in the last few months. Recently, in a media report quoting the financial statements of the company, it was said that in the first half of the current financial year, BSNL’s revenue from operations has increased by about 10.4 percent on year-on-year basis to about Rs 9,235 crore. The company has registered growth in revenue across all its segments including consumer mobility. Its total expenditure also increased by about 4.5 percent on year-on-year basis to about Rs 12,890 crore. This includes employee costs of approximately Rs 4,042 crore. The share of employee cost in the total expenses of BSNL is about 31 percent. The company plans to launch 5G network next year.

The company has registered operating profit in the first half of this financial year. BSNL’s EBITDA stands at Rs 904 crore, up nearly 57 per cent. The company has gained millions of new subscribers in the first half. During April to September, a large number of subscribers of big private telecom companies like Bharti Airtel and Reliance Jio have decreased.