Published On : Thu, Jun 1st, 2023
National News | By Nagpur Today Nagpur News

BSNL wants to ring in 100mn 4G customers

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State-run BSNL seeks to get 100 million customers to use its 4G service in the next 12-24 months as it rolls out the services across the country, Union Minister of Communications Ashwini Vaishnaw told Business Standard.

Currently, there are about 769 million 4G users in the country, out of total 1,100 million total telecom users.

Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) and MTNL have a combined 105 million total telecom subscribers, or around 9.1 per cent of the total market, though they are 2G or 3G users.

It also plans to launch 5G services by end of the current year and have substantial coverage by the middle of next year, stepping up work after years of wavering commitment.

“The rollout of 4G has already begun and we expect substantial coverage by the end of the year. We expect to get 100 million 4G customers in a year or two, and 5G will be launched in the end of the year,’ said Vaishnaw.

A few days ago, the telecom firm gave an advance purchase order valued at Rs 15,000 crore to a consortium led by Tata Consultancy Services, which included Tejas Software (controlled by Tatas), to supply radio access network and C-Dot technology.