State-run telecom companies Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) and Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL) are expected to switch on their 4G network by the end of 2022, said Minister of State (MoS) for Communications Devusinh Chauhan recently.
Chauhan said that the Government has commenced several initiatives within BSNL and MTNL. The state-run telcos will deploy indigenously developed 4G equipment under the ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative to launch the fourth-generation mobile network.
He added that the two telcos have achieved operating profit for the first time after the implementation of the revival package in October 2019, adding that the BSNL will soon launch its 4G services in the Gujarat license service area (LSA).
According to media reports, BSNL will start its 4G trials in four cities in Kerala — Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam, Kozhikode, and Kannur — by August.
BSNL is set to deploy commercial next-generation services backed by India’s homegrown technology that included core equipment developed by the state-run Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DoT) which is affordable as compared to multinationals.
On March 31, BSNL placed an order with the Mumbai-based Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) to procure equipment for 6,400 radio sites to be deployed on 2100 MHz and 900 MHz frequencies both in urban and rural India.
TCS, however, is yet to accept the price offer of Rs 560-crore and is currently negotiating with the telecom department.