BSNL said the deployment of these 4G sites is a part of an extended field trial
Indian state-run operator Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) was expected to launch 200 4G network sites in the Punjab region, local newspaper The Economic Times reported.
The deployment of these 4G network sites is a part of an extended field trial following a proof of concept (PoC) by Tata Consultancy Services (TCS)-led consortium.
“Starting October, there will be a large-scale rollout of BSNL’s 4G network that is expected to be completed in a 12-month timeframe,” the newspaper said, citing a top official from the Department of Telecommunications (DoT).
Last week, BSNL officials, executives of TCS and radio equipment provider Tejas Networks met to discuss the 4G rollout strategy and timelines.
BSNL aims to initially provide 4G services in high-revenue telecom circles in India. Currently, Kerala, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Punjab are among the high-revenue-earning circles for the state-owned carrier. According to previous reports, BSNL expects to cover all telecom circles in India with its 4G services by the end of its upcoming financial year, which ends in March 2024.
The government of India recently confirmed it had earmarked a total of INR890 billion ($10.8 billion) for the allotment of spectrum for state-run operator Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) to launch nationwide 4G and 5G services.
Through this move, the state-owned telco has access to spectrum in the 700 MHz, 2.5 GHz, 3.3 GHz and 26 GHz bands. With this spectrum allotment, BSNL will be able to provide pan-India 4G and 5G service, provide 4G coverage in rural regions under various connectivity projects, provide fixed wireless access (FWA) service and offer services or spectrum for private networks.
In May, BSNL had ordered $1.83 billion worth of infrastructure equipment and software from TCS. Also in May, a group of ministers approved the proof-of-concept by the TCS consortium for BSNL using an indigenous technology stack, and gave the company the approval to issue the purchase order.
According to previous reports, the Indian government had said that only Indian telecoms vendors will be allowed to supply equipment for state-run telcos BSNL and MTNL’s 4G and 5G projects, as part of the country’s efforts to reduce dependence on international providers.
The government recently confirmed that BSNL will start offering 5G services by end-2023.
“The speed at which BSNL will deploy, you will be surprised. After testing for three months, we will be doing 200 sites a day. That is the average at which we will go. BSNL network will work initially like 4G. Very soon, somewhere around November-December, with a very small software adjustment this will become 5G,” the country’s Minister of Railways, Communications and Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw, said.
