BSNL to deploy 5G by next year

Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) will upgrade its fourth generation or 4G to next generation (5G) services using locally developed core network by next year, making the state-run corporation a powerful entity in the sector, Telecom Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said.

“The Center for Development of Telematics (C-DoT) is making progress in the 5G non-standalone (NSA) core network that will be ready by the end of August and by December field tests will be completed. Next year, Indian 5G stack will be ready to be implemented, including in BSNL,” Vaishnaw said.
Further, the minister said the equipment for 1 lakh seats could be readily available while the ongoing commercial discussions with the Tata Consultancy Services (TCS)-backed consortium are at a final stage.

Vaishnaw also said that BSNL is emerging as a “powerful” telecom service provider, adding that the telco’s spectrum could be used to set up captive or non-public networks.

Meanwhile, BSNL has recently sought price points and an action plan from the Tata group company to upgrade the network to 5G.

Mumbai-based TCS along with its partners such as C-DoT has been shortlisted by BSNL to supply radio and core network equipment after proof-of-concept (PoC) in Ambala and Chandigarh.

Early this year, BSNL awarded a contract worth Rs 550 crore to TCS for setting up 6,000 sites, as part of the public utility’s plans to deploy 1.12 lakh sites across the country for rolling out commercial 4G network services.

The public telco has recently sought 30 MHz of spectrum in the 3.5 GHz band as well as 5 MHz in the 700 MHz band, while 40 MHz in the 3.5 GHz band has already been earmarked.

However, quick upgrade of the soon-to-be-launched 4G network to 5G is imperative for state-run telcos in the wake of 5G entry by private sector rivals such as Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea expected by the end of this year.

“BSNL is ready to grow now. It has already completed procurement of 4G SIM cards. BSNL’s plans are in place for rapid rollout of 4G with proprietary 4G technology as developed by TCS-Tejas, and is based on SDN (software- defined network) architecture. This means it can be rolled out at a very fast pace,” said Anupam Shrivastava, former chairman, BSNL.

Shrivastava further said that BSNL has the largest pool of optical fiber in every nook and corner of India. “I believe that by next year itself, it can launch large-scale 4G along with 5G on NSA mode. The need of the hour is for it to take quick decisions, especially at a time when the government is behind them.”

The second revival package of Rs 1,64,000 crores by the government, according to the former official, brings a lot of positivity and it should focus on sales of 4G mobile SIM cards and strategic tie-ups.

Last week, the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led cabinet approved Rs 1.64 lakh crore as the revival package for the distressed state-owned telco and allowed Bharat Broadband Network limited (BBNL) merger with BSNL.

Founded in 2012, BBNL is a special purpose vehicle (SPV) set up to deploy a nationwide fiber-based telecom network, called BharatNet.

In October 2019, as part of the bailout strategy, the Center had approved a Rs 68,751 crore package for loss-making BSNL that included allocation of 4G spectrum, voluntary retirement scheme (VRS) and asset monetization.

More than 78,000 BSNL employees, constituting about 50% of the workforce, opted for VRS, which helped the telco cut down on wage costs.

In 2020, BSNL had to cancel a tender due to allegations of restrictive conditions by domestic firms, after which it had launched a new expression of interest (EoI) allowing home-grown companies to demonstrate their technological capabilities. Mac Pro Tricks