There’s a question in many Indians mind about the BSNL’s roll out of 4G services. The Government-owned company has been saying about the possible roll out of 4G services since 2014, but the company did not roll out the services yet. Numerous reports claimed that BSNL would launch services by the end of 2016, but eventually, that didn't happen.
And now, a new report appeared recently claimed that BSNL's 4G services will be live by the end of 2017. But this time around, BSNL users are not giving any attention to what the company is saying. Every month has a new report about BSNL's 4G services; Some say that the company will deploy required infrastructure by the end of 2017, and in early 2018, we will see BSNL 4G services go live for the general public.
However, the question is still a question: when will BSNL roll out 4G services? What's the development until now? Let's find out.
Earlier this year, BSNL's CMD Anupam Shrivastava said that “We are in the process of issuing an expression of interest for rolling out 4G services on revenue sharing basis and will provide the only bandwidth to technology service provider who will manage and operate 4G services."
However, they have been saying the same word since 2014, but no development has been made. Two weeks ago, BSNL urged the government to allot the operator 700 MHz spectrum through the equity route, which will help it launch 4G service in the country, allowing to compete with the likes of Airtel, Vodafone, Idea Cellular and Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Jio.
Another report stated that the state-run telecom operator is reportedly replacing its 2G cell sites with modern cell sites that will allow it to offer 3G and 4G services at select locations. The telecom operator has planned to install around 28,000 new mobile base stations across the country under the phase-8 expansion.
That said, apart from the Telangana and Andhra Pradesh development, everything from BSNL officials came from words, but there's no deployment of infrastructure though. Having said that, BSNL is now claiming to roll out services by the end of the year. We hope the company to deliver the services at least this time.