Andrew Bonwick
Vice President of Product Development at Relm Insurance
Madhav Sheth
CEO of Ai+ Smartphone
Stephen Rose
CEO Render Networks


Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), a state-run telecom operator, has delayed a little too much when it comes to rolling out 4G. One can’t blame the organisation entirely, as the government’s decision to only use indigenous tech forced the telco to delay its 4G rollout. Indian tech companies didn’t have proven technology at the time. But since the rollout has started, the government expects BSNL to roll out 4G networks by June 2025.
BSNL’s 4G is late, that is correct, but it is still impactful. There are still millions of Indians who are using 2G/3G networks, and BSNL can serve these customers with its 4G networks at a lower price range. Private telecom operators charge customers more money than BSNL to keep their SIMs active.
Read More – Has BSNL Lost a Golden Opportunity
This has helped BSNL add more customers in the recent past. However, that is not going to be enough. BSNL needs to quickly rollout its 4G and 5G networks to be able to compete with the private telecom operators in the future.
However, the goal for BSNL should not be to fight the private telcos but to offer differentiated services at a slightly lower price point and reach profitability. The state-run telecom operator is already generating operating profits, and it was possible due to the relief package which was announced by the government thrice in the last five years.
Read More – BSNL offering 25 Mbps Speed, 1200GB Data for 3 months for Only Rs 999