The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has allocated Rs 61,000 crore worth of 5G spectrum to Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), a state-owned telecom operator. According to a report by ET, BSNL now has access to premium (700MHz) and mid-band (3300MHz) spectrum.
With this development, BSNL is said to have begun trial runs of its 5G network in select locations such as New Delhi, ahead of a wider rollout. Some of these towers are expected to become operational by June 2025.
The company is also in the process of installing over one lakh 4G towers across the country, of which 80,000 are already operational. These sites will be upgraded to support 5G in the coming days.
BSNL has already started rolling out its 5G network via the Network-as-a-Service (NaaS) model. Meanwhile, Tidal Wave recently deployed a private 5G network for Coal India on the 3500MHz band.
Both Airtel and Jio currently offer 5G services across the country, while Vi has recently begun rolling out its 5G network in select cities like Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Delhi.
BSNL has been gaining users since the price hikes by the three private telcos in 2024. Compared to its private counterparts, BSNL offers more affordable recharge plans with greater data benefits. With the expansion of its 4G network and the rollout of 5G, the company is expected to continue attracting price-conscious consumers.
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