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) Andhra Pradesh (AP) has reported a milestone of 1 lakh SIM activations in 23 days. The announcement was made by BSNL Andhra Pradesh on X (formerly known as Twitter) this Saturday. However, no information was shared regarding whether these activations are direct or via MNP. In May, BSNL announced the launch of its indigenous 4G technology in the Chittoor District of Andhra Pradesh, which will soon be extended across the state.
Also Read: BSNL Launches Indigenous 4G in Chittoor District of Andhra Pradesh
Competitive Tariffs for Subscriber Attraction
Following the tariff revision that took place in early July in India, BSNL has been promoting its tariffs as cheaper and more competitive to attract subscribers. It is important to note that BSNL does not currently have PAN India 4G coverage, unlike private telecom providers. Additionally, of the three private players, Airtel and Jio are offering 5G services with unlimited 5G benefits at present.
BSNL’s 4G and 5G Deployment Status
According to a recent CNBC report, the government informed Parliament on July 24 that BSNL 4G services may still take another year. The state-owned telecom operator is now expected to complete the deployment of its 4G network by June 2025. So far, BSNL has activated only 1,000 sites, with a target to set up 100,000 sites across the country.
Also Read: BSNL’s 4G to Arrive for 4300 Sites in Andhra Pradesh
However, another report from Business Standard, citing a senior BSNL official, stated that BSNL has installed nearly 12,000 4G towers and aims to begin nationwide 4G services by the end of 2024, and 5G services by early next year.