CMD Anupam Shrivastava Confirms BSNL 4G Rollout in 2017-18

[Rewati Baruah]

The state-run telecom operator Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited will be rolling out its 4G services in 2017-18. This has been confirmed by the company’s CMD Anupam Shrivastava and reported by RTN Asia. The roll-out has been pending from the last four years.

Much Awaited BSNL 4G Rollout:

Though the exact launch period was not mentioned by Mr Anupam Shrivastava, the BSNL subscribers might see 4G services in the next six months. Moreover, the telecom company has not revealed any information regarding its 4G business.

Also Read: BSNL Seeks 5MHz Spectrum in 700MHz Band to Roll-out 4G Services

Incidentally, it is interesting to note that BSNL will be launching 4G services on revenue sharing basis. The company will hand over the spectrum to independent parties of a state to manage the 4G roll out by providing the bandwidth to technology service provider.

Mr Anupam Shrivastava’s announcement comes at a time when the existing telecom players are offering high-speed 4G services at cheaper rates. Starting from Bharti Airtel to the latest Reliance Jio, all the telecom players are upgrading their network to 4G to provide better services to their subscribers.

Adapting to Dynamic Changes in Telecom Business:

Back in 2014, the state-run telecom company BSNL has incurred losses and thus sold out its 4G spectrum in Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Kolkata, Madhya Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu. Though BSNL has gone beyond its limits, the company has to address 4G services offerings on a quick note.

Also Read: BSNL Partners with Tata Communication to Deploy 44 Million WiFi Hotspots Globally