The local telecom provider Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) is preparing to launch 5G services in the coming months. At the moment, the company is primarily concentrating on the deployment of 4G sites, with an objective of deploying 1 lakh sites by June 2025. BSNL has set up more than 75,000 sites and deployed more than 80,000 so far. All sites are anticipated to be up and running by mid-2025.
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BSNL to Roll Out 5G Soon, Targets 1 Lakh 4G Sites by June 2025 with Indigenous Network Expansion
BSNL has stated that it will also activate all 100,000 sites by May or June of 2025, according to India’s Union Telecom Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia. Once that happens, the company will then slowly start migrating users from 4G to 5G, which will most likely begin sometime in June. BSNL did take quite some time to finish deploying 1 lakh sites, but its 4G expansion will continue thereafter. The state-run company is likely to deepen its continuing partnership with Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) to back an additional 4G expansion.
While reaching 1 lakh sites is a significant achievement, it remains insufficient to cover the entire country comprehensively. BSNL is also considering 5G, and its first step is to test standalone (SA) 5G in Delhi. Moreover, the company has the ability to implement 4G sites to 5G non-standalone (NSA) 3GPP with the help of TCS. The Tata Group has stated that this transition can be done through a software update.
It is the only telecom operator in India to deploy an entirely indigenous 4G network. On the contrary, private telecom players have always depended on foreign vendors for setting up their 4G infrastructure. The Indian government mandated BSNL to use homegrown technology in its 4G rollout for security reasons and to promote self-reliance in the telecom sector. With BSNL’s upcoming 5G rollout and its continued focus on strengthening its 4G network, the company aims to enhance connectivity across the country while supporting India’s push for indigenous telecom infrastructure.
