Lucknow Press
If you also want to port your network from Reliance Jio or Airtel to BSNL, then this news will make you happy. The government is increasingly focusing on the expansion of BSNL’s 4G network. Under this, there is a plan to install 75000 towers of BSNL across the country by December. To speed up this work, the Center is planning to allocate an additional Rs 6,000 crore to BSNL for the purpose of accelerating the 4G network. Due to the reduction in the scope of BSNL’s 4G network, the company is suffering a huge loss in terms of customer base.
Struggling to retain user base
The plan to invest capital by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) is being prepared to accelerate the 4G network and to meet the shortfall in capex. Officials associated with this matter told ET that its rollout is being done through a locally developed stack. Officials said that soon DoT will contact the Cabinet for this. Let us tell you that BSNL is struggling to add or retain users due to lagging behind in 4G service. But after the recent plan of BSNL came out, BSNL’s user base is expected to increase.
Advance purchase order of Rs 19000 crore given
Last year, an advance purchase order of Rs 19,000 crore was given for the rollout of one lakh 4G sites. But when the actual purchase order was given to TCS and state run telecom equipment maker for expanding the network, it was around Rs 13,000 crore. An official said that the remaining amount is more than Rs 6000 crore. So far, the government has invested about 3.22 lakh crore in BSNL and MTNL as part of three revival packages including the rollout of 4G service from 2019.
Plan to provide service from one lakh base sites
According to the government, after these packages, BSNL-MTNL started earning operating profit from the financial year 2021. Compared to private operators, BSNL has been able to offer 4G to very few users through 22,000 base stations. The government hopes that the target of 4G rollout from one lakh base sites will be completed between Diwali 2024 and mid-2025.
According to TRAI data, BSNL’s market share has decreased from 10.72% in December 2020 to 7.33% by June 2024. During this period, Jio’s market share has increased from 35.06% to 40.71%. Bharti Airtel, which is at second place, has seen its share increase from 29.24% to 33.23%.
