State-owned Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) announced on Tuesday, October 22, that it will not raise tariffs in the near future. The company has ruled out any tariff hikes, even though all private Indian operators increased their tariffs in July 2024. BSNL's focus is on consumer satisfaction and gaining their confidence, said the Chairman and Managing Director of BSNL, according to a PTI report.
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BSNL Confirms No Tariff Hikes
"We can clearly say we are not going to increase our tariffs in the near future. Today, BSNL's prime interest is to see that its consumers are happy and to win their confidence. We don't see any need for tariff hikes in the near future," the report quoted Robert Ravi, Chairman and Managing Director of BSNL, as saying.
Ravi reportedly added that BSNL has already begun offering 4G services in test mode and is prioritising customer satisfaction. A full-fledged commercial launch is expected later this calendar year. BSNL has onboarded around 1.8 crore 4G customers.
BSNL's stance on tariff revisions is significant, as all private telecom operators in India, including Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel, and Vodafone Idea, raised tariffs earlier this year.
New Logo and Branding
In a separate rebranding initiative, the state-owned operator unveiled a new logo ahead of the launch of its PAN India 4G services and introduced seven new services. The rebranding marks a transformative era for the service provider, reaffirming its commitment to providing seamless, universal, affordable, and accessible connectivity.
Union Minister of Communications Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, along with Union MoS for Communications and Rural Development Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar and Chairman of the DCC and Secretary of Telecommunications, Neeraj Mittal, unveiled BSNL's new logo in an event today in New Delhi. The logo reflects the mission of "Connecting Bharat – Securely, Affordably, and Reliably."
Seven New Services Launched
In addition to the new logo, BSNL launched seven services aimed at enhancing digital security, affordability, and reliability. These include the BSNL Spam-Free Network, BSNL Wi-Fi Roaming, BSNL IFTV (Fiber-Based Intranet Live TV service), Any Time SIM (ATS) Kiosks, Direct-to-Device Service, Public Protection and Disaster Relief Solution, and Private 5G for Mines (CNPN).
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The BSNL Spam-Free Network filters phishing attempts and malicious SMS messages in real-time, as previously reported by TelecomTalk.
BSNL has also rolled out a national Wi-Fi roaming service for its FTTH customers, offering high-speed internet access at BSNL hotspots at no extra cost, helping users reduce data expenses.
Additionally, BSNL announced a fibre-based intranet Live TV (BSNL IFTV) service with over 500 live channels and Pay TV options, available to all FTTH subscribers without any extra fees. Importantly, the data used for TV streaming will not count against users' FTTH data allowances.
Also Read: BSNL Showcases Automatic Customer Acquisition and SIM Vending Machine at IMC2024
Showcased at IMC 2024, the company has also launched automated SIM kiosks (Any Time SIM) for seamless SIM dispensing, activation, and KYC integration.
In collaboration with C-DAC, BSNL introduced a private 5G network for mining operations using Made-in-India equipment and BSNL's expertise. This network supports advanced AI and IoT applications in underground and large open-pit mines, enabling high-speed, low-latency connectivity for safety analytics, real-time remote control of autonomous vehicles (AGVs), augmented reality-enabled remote maintenance, and fleet tracking.
Also Read: BSNL and Viasat Trial Direct-to-Device Satellite Connectivity
BSNL has also launched India's first Direct-to-Device (D2D) connectivity solution, which integrates satellite and terrestrial mobile networks. This technology will be critical in emergency situations and remote areas, allowing services like UPI payments even in isolated regions. BSNL showcased this solution at IMC 2024 in partnership with Viasat, as reported by TelecomTalk.
Lastly, BSNL introduced a Public Protection and Disaster Relief solution, a secure, scalable, and dedicated network for real-time disaster response, communication, and public safety.
