Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), a state-run Indian telecom operator has announced that it has deployed 20 new/upgraded 4G towers in Ladakh and border areas. This move from BSNL will bolster network connectivity in the region for the Indian army. BSNL is rapidly expanding the reach of its 4G networks through homegrown gear.
The target for the telco is to reach the milestone of 1,00,000 4G sites by mid-2025. So far, BSNL has commissioned 41,000 4G sites, and installed over 50,000 sites. The remaining sites will be done in the expected time frame of the next 6 to 9 months. Telecom minister Jyotiraditya Scindia had previously said that BSNL will have a daily 4G sites rollout target. This will be reviewed by the minister himself.
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BSNL recently launched a new logo along with seven new services. The new services include many things such as Live TV, a SIM vending machine, and more. The efforts to make a comeback are being made, and the recent tariff hike from the private telcos has helped BSNL add new users. For how long BSNL can continue to add new users will be worth watching.
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BSNL Ropes in an American Consulting Firm
BSNL also recently roped in Boston Consulting Group (BCG), an American firm to help with its revival strategy. The state-run telco has been recommended by BCG that it should speed up its 4G network rollout, launch a super app, and increase its average revenue per user (ARPU) figure. Along with that, the telco has been advised to leverage AI chatbots for customer interaction and set up a premium call center desk for high ARPU users, said an FE report. For its help, BCG is being paid Rs 132 crore by BSNL.
