Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) has been mandated by the government to only use homegrown or swadeshi technology to launch 4G and 5G networks in India. However, this has delayed the process for the next-generation network launch for BSNL. While private telcos are now offering 4G/5G to customers throughout India, BSNL is still stuck with the process of rolling out 4G. The issue is that India didn't have proven technology for 4G and 5G for the telcos to roll out. Thus, it has taken a lot of time for BSNL to start rolling out 4G.
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Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS), which represents more than 3 crore workers in India, wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, requesting that BSNL be allowed to upgrade telecom infra using technology from global vendors. The request is made by BMS as BSNL has been losing customers to private telcos because of not having high-speed networks like them. Until the time there is proven technology that is ready to be deployed at scale, BMS has requested the PM that BSNL be allowed to use technology from international vendors.
BMS said that BSNL is important to ensure balance in the market and avoid any monopolistic scenario. The association mentioned the tariff hikes from the private telecom operators. The body said that data services will become very expensive for poor people and it will be a setback to the government's efforts to bridge the digital divide.
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It is worth noting that the government has already reserved 4G and 5G spectrum for BSNL throughout all telecom circles in the country. The relief package provided to the state-run telecom operator is already helping with generating operating profits. At such a time, if BSNL can launch high-speed networks, it may contribute to stopping subscriber churn for the company.
