Technical News Office – After Jio, Airtel and Vodafone-Idea, the wait for 4G and 5G services from Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) is about to end. BSNL has officially confirmed the rollout of its 5G services. According to Union Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, BSNL’s 5G rollout is likely to begin in 2025. He informed that BSNL has successfully completed testing of its 5G Radio Access Network (RAN) and its core network on 3.6 GHz and 700 MHz frequency bands and that India will soon launch indigenous 5G services. Let us tell you in this article when BSNL’s 5G service can start and what preparations are being made for it:
When will BSNL’s 5G service start?
According to a report in The Hindu, BSNL Andhra Pradesh Senior Managing Director L. Srinu announced in a press conference that BSNL is preparing to launch its 5G services by Sankranti 2025. Currently, the company is is focused on upgrading its infrastructure such as towers and other necessary equipment so that 5G can be deployed as quickly as possible.
Current Status of BSNL 5G
BSNL is currently setting up 4G sites across the country, which will be upgraded to 5G by 2025. BSNL aims to create 100,000 sites by mid-2025, of which 39,000 sites have been created till here. The goal is to open the remaining locations by the end of the fiscal year or the first quarter of next year. BSNL will be the first operator in the country to roll out both indigenous 4G and 5G.
BSNL 4G to 5G upgrade
BSNL’s 4G technology provided by Tata Consultancy Services can be upgraded to 5G. This means that BSNL will not need any major additional investment to upgrade to 5G. The 5G rollout will begin in areas where BSNL has already launched its 4G services, thereby enabling the upgrade process to take place smoothly.
Importance of the 700 MHz band
BSNL, along with Reliance Jio, is the only telecom company to have access to the premium 700 MHz band. This band provides better coverage, while Airtel and Vodafone Idea have decided not to adopt it due to its higher cost.
bsnl 5g test
BSNL has started testing its 5G network in collaboration with several technology partners in different parts of India. BSNL’s 5G rollout is not only aimed at providing faster internet, but also aims to reduce India’s dependence on foreign companies. Indian companies like Lekha Wireless, Galore Network, VVDN Technologies, Wysig are involved in this trial.
These trials are an important step towards providing high-speed data services to BSNL users soon. BSNL’s 5G rollout could be cheaper than that of private companies, which could bring relief to users. BSNL’s low-cost plans have been its biggest feature and 5G services are also expected to be available at equally low prices.
BSNL 5G Test Location
BSNL’s 5G network is being tested at various locations in Delhi. Of these, Lekha Wireless is conducting trials at Minto Road, while VVDN Technologies is conducting trials at Chanakyapuri. Apart from this, Galore Networks is conducting trials for MTNL in areas like Shadipur, Rajendra Nagar and Karol Bagh. These trials are important steps towards deployment across the country.
New services from BSNL
BSNL has also launched seven new services, which are as follows:
1. Spam-Free Network: BSNL has introduced a new spam blocking feature that allows users to automatically filter phishing and malicious SMS messages. This will eliminate the need for users to report or block them themselves.
2. Nationwide Wi-Fi Roaming: BSNL has launched a new Wi-Fi roaming service for its fiber to the home (FTTH) users, allowing them to use BSNL Wi-Fi hotspots for free . The service is designed to maintain fast internet connectivity while reducing data costs.
3. BSNL IFTV (Intranet Fiber TV): BSNL has announced the BSNL IFTV service, through which more than 500 live TV channels will be available on the fiber network. FTTH users will be able to watch it without using their data pack.
4. Anytime SIM Kiosks: BSNL has launched automated SIM kiosks available 24×7, allowing users to purchase, upgrade or change SIM cards at any time. These kiosks support UPI/QR based payments and come with multilingual KYC.
5. Direct to Device Connectivity: BSNL launched India’s first Direct to Device (D2D) service, which provides connectivity by combining satellite and mobile networks. This service will be particularly useful in remote or disaster-affected areas, where normal networks do not work or are unavailable.
6. Disaster Relief Network: BSNL announced a scalable and secure network enabling government agencies to enhance their disaster response capabilities. This network will remain operational in the event of an emergency and will expand coverage through drone and balloon-based systems as needed.
