Prime Highlights
- BSNL plans a massive expansion by adding 50,000–60,000 new mobile towers to strengthen nationwide coverage and service quality.
- The company is preparing for a smooth transition from 4G to 5G, requiring mainly software upgrades due to its indigenous technology stack.
Key Facts
- BSNL has already deployed nearly 1 lakh towers, with about 98,000 currently active and transmitting 4G signals.
- The telecom operator reported a ₹262 crore quarterly profit, marking its first profit in 18 years, with subscribers rising from 8.55 crore to 9.27 crore.
Background
State-run BSNL plans to expand its network by adding 50,000 to 60,000 more mobile towers, Union telecom minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said on Thursday. He also said the company expects its operating profit to grow in double digits during the current financial year.
Speaking at the Times Now Summit, Scindia said BSNL has already installed close to one lakh towers across the country. Out of these, around 98,000 towers are already active and transmitting 4G signals using the company’s indigenous Atmanirbhar technology stack.
The minister said BSNL has made its biggest-ever capital investment of ₹20,000 crore in a single year to build its 4G network. He added that the company will soon upgrade the same network to 5G.
Scindia said the move to 5G will not be difficult because BSNL’s current 4G system is built on an indigenous platform. He explained that the upgrade will mainly require software changes in the core network and additional mobile sites, rather than building the entire network again.
Highlighting BSNL’s improving performance, Scindia said the company has increased its subscriber base. BSNL had 8.55 crore users in June 2024, and the number has now risen to 9.27 crore subscribers.
He also said BSNL recently reported a quarterly profit of ₹262 crore, marking its first profit in 18 years. The minister called it an important milestone for the company, which has struggled financially for nearly two decades.
Scindia further said BSNL is now generating cash and improving its operational margins. He expressed confidence that the company’s operating profit will rise further in FY26, supported by network expansion and improved services.
The expansion plan aims to strengthen BSNL’s coverage and improve service quality, as the company prepares to compete more strongly in the 4G and upcoming 5G telecom market.