Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), a state-run Indian telecom operator, will be led by Robert Ravi for three more months. For the unaware, Ravi has been serving as the interim chairman-cum-managing director (CMD) of BSNL. The announcement has come from the Department of Telecommunications. This is to ensure that the post doesn't remain vacant as the telco is still looking for a new CMD to take over the control of the company.
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In a notification, DoT said, "in continuation of this department’s order of July 13, 2024, and to ensure that the post of CMD, BSNL along with CMD, MTNL and CMD, BBNL does not remain vacant, as an interim measure and subject to the approval of the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC), the additional charge of the post(s) of CMD, BSNL along with CMD, MTNL and CMD, BBNL entrusted to Sh. Ravi A Robert Jerald, DDG (SRI), DoT is extended for a further period of three months wef January 1, 2025 till April 14, 2025, or until further orders, whichever is earlier." The development was first shared by ET.
Minister of Communications has approved the extension order for three more months. Ravi has been at the helm of BSNL since July 2024. PK Purwar had left the company around that time after serving as the CMD for several years. BSNL recently merged with BBNL(Bharat Broadband Network Limited) and is working to ensure that the BharatNet program is implemented correctly. The state-run telecom operator is also rolling out 4G for customers, which is crucial for its financial future.
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Without 4G, BSNL won't be able to add new subscribers in the future or retain the existing ones. So far, BSNL has deployed around 75,000 4G sites under its rollout program, and is looking to reach 1 lakh site count by May to June 2025.
