With the growing competition from all sides and telcos rolling out attractive plans and offers to retain and increase their subscriber base, BSNL is plotting another expansion plan in order to make its impact in the game. Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited, the state-owned telco has decided that it would roll out 4G services in Karnataka this year. The tender for the rollout for the services has also been processed and the telco is awaiting allocation of spectrum from the Government. Under this plan of relaying 4G services in the state of Karnataka, as much as 130 cities will receive 4G network from BSNL. The telco has also planned to install 30,000 4G towers in the country out of which 10,000 4G towers will be set up in Karnataka alone.
R. Mani, Chief General Manager, Karnataka circle, BSNL conveyed it in a press conference on Friday that the telco is only awaiting clearance from the government to launch 4G services.
Mr Mani also did not forget to mention that BSNL has already initiated the work for the 4G network with the commissioning of one 4G Base Transreceiver Station (BTS) in Shivamogga in March this year. However, he did not present a solid reason for the delay in rolling out of 4G by BSNL, while the other private telcos have already done it in beforehand. He quoted “Soon, 4G services will be available across Karnataka.”
He also added that Karnataka is the second BSNL circle in the country to earn revenue of Rs 2,000 crore in 2017-18, with a net profit of Rs 35 crore. Unlike other telcos, who were laden with revenue loss as high as 40% the BSNL Karnataka circle registered profit despite 14% loss in revenue.
Mr Mani added to the stats saying that 42,358 high-speed broadband connections on Fibre-to-the-Home (FTTH) technology are already in service, a number which hasn’t been registered in any other BSNL circle in the country. He furthered his statements saying that the telco was on the work of installing more BTSs so that the quality of network in the state increases.
The Karnataka circle is going to spend Rs 228 crore to set up 1280 3G towers. Mysuru is going to be the first district to replace 70 old technology BTSs with new technology 3G BTSs. While the previous technology BTSs were supporting only 14 Mbps internet speed, the new technology BTSs will support speed up to 21 Mbps. This news was reported by The Hindu.
Mani said, “The mobile data speed in Mysuru has already increased, and the customers are happy with the speed.”
K.L. Jairam, District General Manager, Mysuru Telecom stated the telco was aiming to extend optical fibre services to as many customers as possible. They also touted on the telco’s readiness to expand their services in the fibre optic sector; the official added that BSNL would avail FTTH to service any consumer who demanded it.
