BSNL launches 4G for its massive comeback in the telecom
industry

The revival equipped with 5G spectrum conversion
technology

What is the Importance of revival of BSNL in telecom Industry?

From having an affluent hand in the telecom industry to being an ailing PSU Bharat Sanchar
Nigam Limited (BSNL) has been through quite a journey. But things may look up with the launch
of its much-delayed 4G services. BSNL’s financial position has been deteriorating for a long time.
It was incorporated in 2000 out of Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and was once the
second biggest mobile player, with a profit of Rs 10,000 crore around 2005 but is now reeling
under losses. The struggling PSU has pinned its hopes on 4G launch this year to put itself back on
revival path.

What are the plans of BSNL for a comeback?

BSNL paves a way for the first indigenous 4G network the Tata-Tejas-C-DoT consortium2100
MHz spectrum. The company has given an order of 6,000 sites in March. It plans to give an order
for another 50,000 sites. 4G sites will be deployed initially at high revenue potential areas where
infrastructure is 4G-ready, followed by a pan-India rollout. It plans to install about 1.12 lakh towers
across the country.
You can now read all the latest telecom industry news on ’Telecom Magazine India’. Keep yourself
updated with facts about the newest technology and latest tech trends of the telecom Industry
in India.

What drawback is BSNL facing according to latest telecom Industry News?

With the Private telecom Industries in India progressing enthusiastically competing for 5G
spectrum Auction, BSNL has been lagging behind its peers because of delays in network expansion
and struggling to survive the competition. Due to this, it lost a lot of shares of private telecom
operators over the last few years. Without any further delay BSNL striked a deal where
development of 5G spectrum technology is going to be in parallel with 4G technology and
equipment to keep up to techno-trend. Although the telecos already have the lead in 4G Spectrum
and might not match their intensity, BSNL has a powerful come back with upgradable to fifth
generation or 5G non-standalone (NSA) by end of 2022, and 5G alone (SA) by 2023 with core
network from CDoT. This would help BSNL’s revenue rise and have a notable comeback to the
telecom industry in India.

How was the Indigenous 4G network chosen by BSNL?

In January last year, BSNL had released a detailed notice inviting e-tender, for planning,
testing, deployment and annual maintenance of its much-awaited 4G network across four
operational zones in addition to Delhi and Mumbai circles for 57,000 sites on a turnkey basis, and
sought proof of concept for Indian companies and companies willing to participate in its upcoming
4G tender, in order to test their network quality. The Mumbai-based Tata Consultancy Services
(TCS)-backed consortium that included state-run Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DoT)
and Tejas Networks, was shortlisted to supply core and radio equipment for the PoC sites in
Chandigarh and Ambala following the withdrawal of rival companies such as L&T, HFCL and Tech
Mahindra. To know more facts and detailed particulars of the latest telecom industry news keep
yourselves overhauled with quick read through ‘telecom magazine India’.

What is the latest update of BSNL news?

The trial process was completed successfully by the end of this March 2022 and now the
government is waiting for the vendors to fulfil BSNL’s order for 40W radios that is to be deploys in
6000 telecom sites. Following this up, BSNL will deploy 4G in 1,00,000 sites across the country. It
is to be noted that TCS is yet to accept the order price of Rs 560 crore that was offered by BSNL.
“This (4G) deployment would be historical, and we are confident that with necessary support from
the telecom department in line with the Atmanirbhar vision, we would be able fulfill BSNL’s current
needs”, said Rajkumar Upadhyay, executive director at C-DoT.
Keep your self-updated on the upcoming auction details and various latest telecom news on
‘Indian Telecom Magazine’.

FAQ on Latest BSNL News:

How much did center allocate BSNL for tech upgradation?
The Centre, as a part of budgetary provision, said that it would infuse Rs 44, 270-crore into
BSNL for expenses primarily technology upgradation in FY 2022-23.
2) What are the other indigenous telecom startups BSNL collaborated with?
Earlier telecom startups like Lekha Wireless and Saankhya Labs would also be providing
low powered radios to BSNL primarily for 4G connectivity in rural areas.
3) Why is TCS in tiff with BSNL?
The price offered (Rs.560 Crores) is 56% lesser than the price point offered to Finnish
multinational Nokia for Expansion of phase VIII in 2018.
TCS demanded to enhance the network equipment supply cost in line with the increase in
component pricing due to supply chain constrains, escalated labor wages, and, continued
rupee volatility against the US Dollar.
4) What is the TCS-CDoT-led consortium?
As the other multinationals progressing towards the 5G spectrum frequency,
the TCS-CDoT-led consortium has the potential to win both local & global deals as people
are looking for trusted telecom solutions. With these indigenous gear and technology India
has an upper hand over the other western countries who used to use the Chinese company
gears which were eventually blocked.
5) How much will BSNL be allotted for the upcoming 5g spectrum auction?
BSNL will only be getting 40 MHz of spectrum in the mid-band.

What is the ongoing tiff between TCS and BSNL?

The deadlock between state-run Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) and Tata Consultancy
services (TCS) continued as the latter sought a price hike to supply gears for 6,000 sites for the roll
out of telco’s much awaited 4G services. However, this will be launched by Prime Minister
Narendra Modi on August 15, 2022. TCS is often in telecom news, for it demands to enhance the
network equipment supply cost in line with the increase in component pricing due to supply chain
constrains, escalated labor wages, and, continued rupee volatility against the US Dollar.
This price offered (Rs.560 Crores) is 56% lesser than the price point offered to Finnish
multinational Nokia for Expansion of phase VIII in 2018. This discourages many home-grown
vendors and companies who have invested in rand d activities. But are instead offered such
inviable price points that led to the cancellation of as many as 20 tenders in the last 3 years.
However, some might say the otherwise too and state that it might be a challenge for a PSU to
meet the demands in similar fashion in the long run for maintaining network quality with its sole
supplier TCS. You can now read all the latest telecom industry news on ’Telecom Magazine India’.
Keep yourself updated with facts about the newest technology and latest tech trends of the
telecom Industry in India.

When will the 4G spectrum of BSNL be launched?

The final trial run was successful in Jaipur using 850 MHz frequency band. despite the given
debate over order price, BSNL is readying for its “limited launch” on august 15th, on the occasion
of ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’ to commemorate 75 years of Independence. It is said to be mature,
scalable and can deploy over more than a lakh towers in the coming future. To know more facts
and detailed particulars of the latest telecom industry news keep yourselves overhauled with
quick read through ‘telecom magazine India’.

What are the challenges faced by BSNL for the launch of 5G and 4G spectrum?

The only challenge faced by BSNL now is the Semiconductor chips that go into the radio. The
tenders have been already sent in this February and are under review by the government officials.
Meanwhile Israel based ISMC Analog Fab Pvt. Ltd is willing to set up a semiconductor fabrication
plant in Karnataka with an outlay of 22,900 crores. Due to this issue of semiconductors telecom
Gear makers are facing a lag of 6-7 month in delivering the purchase orders. This might impact the
5G spectrum roll out in India. The government has recently opened up a spectrum in E-band to
connect mobile towers for transmission of data at high speed as required by the 5G spectrum
telecom frequency. Telecos like Jio, Vodafone Idea, Airtel have urged the government for an
auction for E-band spectrum. The TRAI is in charge of the E-band spectrum auction. Keep your
self-updated on the upcoming auction details and various latest telecom news on ‘Indian Telecom
Magazine’.

How much spectrum will BSNL as a state-owned telecom get in the auction?

BSNL will only be getting 40 MHz of spectrum in the mid-band instead of 70 MHz as
requested by the telco. The (Department of Telecommunications) DoT will be following the
recommendations of the DCC (Digital Communications Commission). The telecom department felt
that reserving 70 MHz of airwaves in the 3300-3670 MHz band would have created a scarcity of
5G airwaves for the private telcos. Keep your self-updated on the upcoming auction details and
various latest telecom news on ‘Indian Telecom Magazine’.

When will BSNL launch 5G spectrum services?

As per all the telecom industry news and developments so far, BSNL is reportedly going to
launch 5G spectrum in 2023. Well, that’s actually a good thing for the telecom industry if it wants
to stay relevant in 2023 and up to date with other telecom companies in India. With 4G delay,
hopefully, the telecom industry and the government have understood the importance of offering
the latest-generation connectivity services to the consumers. The more 4G sites BSNL can rollout
in 2022 and early 2023, the more 5G spectrum sites it can upgrade to fast.

Where and when will the immediate 4G spectrum be launched?

As per the report, BSNL will first launch its 4G network in places like Pune, Maharashtra, and
Kerala, and will soon scale the network. By August 2022, BSNL will start testing 4G networks in
four districts of Kerala. By the end of this year, the telco is expected to have a country-wide 4G
network, and in 2023, we might get to see BSNL 5G services in India. You can now read all the
latest telecom industry news on ’Telecom Magazine India’. Keep yourself updated with facts
about the newest technology and latest tech trends of the telecom Industry in India.
The company had recently sought reservation of 70 MHz of spectrum in the mid-band (3300-3670
MHz) spectrum for 5G services from the Department of Telecommunications (DoT). BSNL can
benefit immensely from a speedy 4G and then 5G rollout. But for that to happen, a lot of things
need to move in a timely manner. In a nutshell, BSNL is indeed on a tight rope, if not so for an
optimistic result, can it make a comeback to the trends of telecom industry. That was about BSNL’s
news on 5G spectrum entry so far.