BSNL to deploy additional 1 lakh towers for 4G network, says Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani: Report
NEW DELHI: State-controlled
Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited
(
BSNL
) will deploy an additional 1 lakh mobile towers for its commercial 4G services, following the successful installation of 1 lakh towers earlier this month, according to a report by The New Indian Express.
Union Minister of State for Communications
Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani
told the publication in a recent interview that the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) is set to shortly seek Cabinet approval for BSNL's 4G expansion in the country.
'After successfully installing 100,000 towers with optimal 4G equipment, we will approach the Cabinet and Prime Minister Narendra Modi to approve another 100,000 towers,' Pemmasani said, as per the report.
The Centre, as per the report, is also planning to increase BSNL's cash flow to support deployment of more 4G and 5G equipment. The government reportedly plans to monetise BSNL assets.
A
Tata Consultancy Services
(TCS)-led consortium, which comprises the
Centre for Development of Telematics
(C-DoT) and homegrown gear maker Tejas Networks, along with
ITI Limited
, has deployed 1 lakh towers for BSNL's 4G network.
Acknowledging initial hiccups with the homegrown equipment in BSNL's network, the minister said it is expected to operate 'near perfection' by the end of July, or August next year.
BSNL has posted a profit after tax (PAT) of ₹280 crore in Q4FY25, up from ₹262 crore in Q3FY25, boosted by its nationwide roll-out of commercial fourth-generation (4G) services and 5G Network-as-a-Service (NaaS) initiatives.
The telecom PSU had posted a net loss of ₹849 crore in the fiscal fourth quarter that ended March 31, 2024. For entire FY25, BSNL's loss reduced by 58% to ₹2,247 crore, compared to a loss of ₹5,370 crore in FY24.
'The outlook for the coming year will continue to show strong top-line revenue growth alongside a steady decline in operating costs—both critical to sustained profitability,' the telecom carrier had said in its earnings statement.
Its private rivals, Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel, and Vodafone Idea (Vi), already provide commercial fifth-generation or 5G network services to customers.
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