&w=3840&q=100)
Net profitability seen as BSNL's true turnaround test: Committee on PSUs
BS Reporter New Delhi
Listen to This Article
The Committee on Public Undertakings (2025-26), comprising members of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, has asked Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) and the Ministry of Communications to accelerate efforts to achieve net profitability, while ensuring that the target of setting up 100,000 4G sites by June 2025 and the subsequent 5G launch are met.
'While BSNL has made progress in operational efficiency and revenue stabilisation, it continues to post substantial net losses. The committee, therefore, strongly recommends that BSNL, with active oversight from the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), establish a clear and time-bound roadmap to convert its operational
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
3 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Guest Column: Mobiles, motorcycles empowering New India
In the swirling dust of village roads and the bustling streets of tier-2 cities, the hum of a motorcycle and the glow of a mobile screen now define the heartbeat of New India. These two icons — mobiles and motorcycles — are more than just symbols of consumer aspiration. For many young Indians, especially in hinterlands, motorcycles are more than just a mode of transport — they're a bridge to education, healthcare, jobs and enterprise. (HT file photo) They represent empowerment, access, and the determined march of young Indians towards a future shaped by their ambition, resilience and ingenuity. Together, they are engineering a silent revolution across the country — reshaping the economy, bridging the rural-urban divide, and signalling a dramatic shift in the development paradigm. With 65% of the population under the age of 35, India's demographic dividend is manifesting itself in unprecedented ways. No longer content with waiting for opportunity to knock, young Indians are finding ways to open doors themselves — armed with a mobile phone in hand and the freedom of two wheels under their feet. The mobile phone has become the single most powerful tool for empowerment. In 2015, India had around 20 crore smartphone users. Today, that number has surpassed 80 crore and is growing. Access to affordable 4G and the rollout of 5G are accelerating the digital revolution. This connectivity has democratised knowledge, fostered entrepreneurship, and expanded markets to the remotest corners. Meanwhile, two-wheelers are quietly powering rural and semi-urban mobility. For many young Indians, especially in hinterlands, motorcycles are more than just a mode of transport — they're a bridge to education, healthcare, jobs and enterprise. They enable delivery executives in small towns, sales agents in rural belts, healthcare workers in villages, and aspirants travelling daily for coaching classes and vocational training. The boom in two-wheeler ownership reflects rising incomes, expanding horizons, and the aspiration to be mobile, literally and figuratively. India's recent success lies in the synergy between physical mobility and digital connectivity. Together, mobiles and motorcycles are creating a platform for inclusive development. New India is working, learning, earning, and growing — all at once. Deepening, widening access As India accelerates towards becoming a $5 trillion economy, the next leap must focus on deepening and widening access to these two levers of empowerment. Several areas hold promise. The first wave of digital penetration was led by cheap smartphones and data. The next must focus on quality — better bandwidth, vernacular content, digital literacy, and women's access. A rural woman with a smartphone in her hand can unlock exponential social impact from maternal health to micro-enterprise. The gig economy has largely been urban-centric. There is potential to expand it into tier-3 towns and beyond. With adequate skilling, local entrepreneurship incentives, and digital onboarding, India can create a decentralised workforce powering delivery, microservices, remote assistance, and more. Electric two-wheelers are the future. Policies must push for rural EV infrastructure, easy financing, and R&D incentives to make India the global hub for affordable, clean mobility, tailored for its youth. With the success of platforms like UMANG, CoWIN, and Aadhaar-enabled direct benefit transfer, India must invest in 'mobile-first' governance. AI-powered public service apps in vernacular languages can revolutionise access to schemes, healthcare, legal aid, and skilling. Government schemes must be more responsive, tech-integrated, and supportive of the informal yet high-potential enterprises run by youth. Key policy actions needed To sustain this momentum and ensure that the transformation is inclusive and sustainable, key policy actions are needed. Just like electricity and roads, high-speed internet must be considered an essential infrastructure. A targeted rollout of rural fiber optic networks, 5G in educational and healthcare zones, and public wi-fi should be a priority. Access to capital remains a major roadblock. Young entrepreneurs and gig workers need tailored financial products — credit based on digital work history, insurance for delivery agents, and micro-EMIs for electric two-wheelers. Skilling must move beyond traditional models. We need mobile-based, gamified learning apps, real-time marketplace-linked training, and nanodegrees that align with the gig economy. Local language content and AI-led personalisation will be crucial. Women's mobility and digital inclusion should be prioritised. Special programmes to promote female smartphone ownership, digital literacy, and mobility through subsidised scooters or safe transport options can unlock transformative gains in women's employment and social empowerment. Innovation shouldn't be limited to Bengaluru, Gurugram, or Hyderabad. Startup hubs should be promoted in tier-2 and tier-3 cities with tax breaks, incubation support, and integration into state-level procurement ecosystems. As reverse migration becomes more common, fuelled by remote work and better rural infrastructure, we need policies that build resilient small towns, smart village programmes, rural coworking hubs, and integrated transport and digital connectivity. India is not waiting for change anymore; it's riding towards it. If we can sustain this momentum, ensure inclusion, and provide the right scaffolding through smart policies, India's development story won't just be about catching up with the world, it will be about setting new benchmarks. Manmohan Parkash (The writer is a former deputy director general, South Asia, with Asian Development Bank. Views expressed are personal.)
Economic Times
a day ago
- Economic Times
The search is on behind closed doors; 5G has to reach there
Synopsis Despite the push from telecom carriers and the government, providing seamless 4G and 5G connectivity inside buildings in India faces hurdles. High-frequency spectrum challenges signal penetration, while low average revenue per user impacts the financial viability of in-building solutions. Efforts are underway by TRAI and DoT to improve indoor connectivity and address regulatory hurdles. Representative image. New Delhi: The ongoing initiatives to provide 4G and 5G connectivity inside buildings and establishments are mired with challenges, despite a proactive push from the private telecom carriers and the government, said industry India, the deployment of in-building solutions (IBS) began around 2016-17 with the launch of 4G, and has accelerated recently with the densification of 5G networks, which use a combination of spectrum bands with varying propagation and material penetration characteristics. Network testing firm Ookla said the trend towards higher frequency spectrum for 5G, for instance, the 3.5 GHz mid-band, limits the ability of the existing mobile network sites to provide high-speed mobile coverage deep indoors. 'The signals that mid-band 5G networks rely on struggle to penetrate the materials in their path when the user is indoors,' it said. The significance of consistent indoor connectivity can be noted by the fact that mobile users, on average, consume 80% of data indoors, a proportion that is only going to increase with the advent of more 5G-driven applications, according to Sweden's Ericsson. But the segment has immense growth potential. Globally, the in-building wireless market size is projected to grow from $20 billion in 2024 to $35.5 billion by 2029 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12.1% during the forecast period, according to MarketsandMarkets Research. The emergence of smart devices, including IoT devices and wearables, is contributing to the expansion of the in-building wireless market, it said. IBS deployment not only has enormous potential to provide indoor connectivity but also to significantly transform the customer experience, business operations, revenue streams and overall market positioning for India's commercial establishments, according to the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI). The industry body represents India's top telcos Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea. IBS infrastructure comprises small cells, distributed antenna systems (DAS), and optical fibre cable (OFC). 'In India, (IBS) deployments are largely concentrated in high-profile, large-scale public infrastructure, such as airports, premium residential complexes, and expansive commercial developments. This is primarily due to the unfavorable economics of IBS in most other settings,' said Kunal Bajaj, CEO & co-founder of the need for improved indoor coverage is urgent and would significantly enhance macro network efficiency and user experience, low average revenue per user (ARPU) challenge the financial viability of many potential projects, he said. 'As a result, the market remains underpenetrated despite clear demand,' Bajaj Kochhar, however, said that despite ARPUs not being optimal, the telecom industry is still continuously investing in network infrastructure upgrades. 'In fact, TSPs have taken the initiative of having innovative partnership models with enterprises and infrastructure providers, which increasingly take care of the investment-related issues to the best possible extent,' he added. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), too, has been undertaking efforts along with the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and the industry to improve in-building connectivity. In its recommendations on "Rating of Buildings or Areas for Digital Connectivity", the sector regulator suggested a property manager should be permitted to set-up, operate, maintain, and expand IBS within a single building, compound, or estate without requiring authorisation from the central government.
Time of India
a day ago
- Time of India
The search is on behind closed doors; 5G has to reach there
Despite the push from telecom carriers and the government, providing seamless 4G and 5G connectivity inside buildings in India faces hurdles. High-frequency spectrum challenges signal penetration, while low average revenue per user impacts the financial viability of in-building solutions. Efforts are underway by TRAI and DoT to improve indoor connectivity and address regulatory hurdles. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads TRAI, DoT initiatives New Delhi: The ongoing initiatives to provide 4G and 5G connectivity inside buildings and establishments are mired with challenges, despite a proactive push from the private telecom carriers and the government, said industry India, the deployment of in-building solutions (IBS) began around 2016-17 with the launch of 4G, and has accelerated recently with the densification of 5G networks, which use a combination of spectrum bands with varying propagation and material penetration testing firm Ookla said the trend towards higher frequency spectrum for 5G, for instance, the 3.5 GHz mid-band, limits the ability of the existing mobile network sites to provide high-speed mobile coverage deep indoors. 'The signals that mid-band 5G networks rely on struggle to penetrate the materials in their path when the user is indoors,' it significance of consistent indoor connectivity can be noted by the fact that mobile users, on average, consume 80% of data indoors, a proportion that is only going to increase with the advent of more 5G-driven applications, according to Sweden's the segment has immense growth the in-building wireless market size is projected to grow from $20 billion in 2024 to $35.5 billion by 2029 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12.1% during the forecast period, according to MarketsandMarkets emergence of smart devices, including IoT devices and wearables, is contributing to the expansion of the in-building wireless market, it deployment not only has enormous potential to provide indoor connectivity but also to significantly transform the customer experience, business operations, revenue streams and overall market positioning for India's commercial establishments, according to the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI). The industry body represents India's top telcos Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea . IBS infrastructure comprises small cells, distributed antenna systems (DAS), and optical fibre cable (OFC).'In India, (IBS) deployments are largely concentrated in high-profile, large-scale public infrastructure, such as airports, premium residential complexes, and expansive commercial developments. This is primarily due to the unfavorable economics of IBS in most other settings,' said Kunal Bajaj, CEO & co-founder of the need for improved indoor coverage is urgent and would significantly enhance macro network efficiency and user experience, low average revenue per user (ARPU) challenge the financial viability of many potential projects, he said. 'As a result, the market remains underpenetrated despite clear demand,' Bajaj Kochhar, however, said that despite ARPUs not being optimal, the telecom industry is still continuously investing in network infrastructure upgrades. 'In fact, TSPs have taken the initiative of having innovative partnership models with enterprises and infrastructure providers, which increasingly take care of the investment-related issues to the best possible extent,' he Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), too, has been undertaking efforts along with the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and the industry to improve in-building its recommendations on "Rating of Buildings or Areas for Digital Connectivity", the sector regulator suggested a property manager should be permitted to set-up, operate, maintain, and expand IBS within a single building, compound, or estate without requiring authorisation from the central government.
