Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) is preparing to expand its indigenous 5G services after its homegrown 4G network began delivering the expected results, according to a senior company official. The state-owned telecom operator is also planning further 4G expansion in the coming months as it works to improve connectivity and customer experience across India.
Speaking on the sidelines of the India Mobile Congress 2026, Vivek Dua, Principal General Manager at BSNL, said the company was moving towards the next generation of mobile connectivity while introducing new customer support and network security initiatives.
BSNL Moves Closer to Indigenous 5G Expansion
BSNL has been deploying domestically developed 4G technology as part of its efforts to reduce dependence on imported telecom infrastructure. The company is now preparing to build on this foundation as it advances towards 5G.
Dua said the existing 4G network was delivering the results expected by the company and that its coverage footprint would continue to expand.
However, BSNL has not announced a nationwide commercial launch date for its indigenous 5G services as part of this latest update. The timing and availability of services will depend on the company’s rollout plans and network readiness.
AI-Powered Vani Chatbot to Improve Customer Support
BSNL has upgraded its automated customer interface, Vani, by connecting it more closely with the telecom network’s core infrastructure.
The enhanced chatbot is designed to help subscribers identify connectivity problems and interact with the service in regional languages. Customers can explain the difficulties they are experiencing, understand network-related issues and, where necessary, register complaints through voice-based conversations.
The initiative could make customer support more accessible to subscribers who are less comfortable navigating conventional digital complaint systems.
BSNL says the integration is intended to help identify problems more efficiently and reduce the time required to resolve them.
New Partnership to Strengthen Customer Data Security
The telecom operator has also partnered with cybersecurity company Saptang to introduce an indigenous data-filtering mechanism within its core network.
The system is intended to identify and filter potential threats before data traffic reaches users’ devices. By addressing certain security challenges at the network level, BSNL aims to improve protection for subscribers regardless of the devices they use.
The effectiveness of the system will depend on its implementation and its ability to identify harmful traffic without disrupting legitimate communications.
BSNL Introduces Bharat Sandesh Digital Platform
Another initiative unveiled by the company is Bharat Sandesh, a two-way digital communication platform intended to connect citizens with government departments and private organisations.
The platform is designed to bring communications from services such as banks, electricity providers and water utilities into a unified interface. Users will be able to interact with participating organisations through chat and voice-based features, with AI supporting the experience.
If widely adopted, the platform could simplify access to service updates and customer interactions. Its usefulness will depend on the number of organisations that join and the services they make available.
Government Support Remains Important
BSNL’s network modernisation has received substantial government backing. Official figures published earlier in 2026 showed that the company was rolling out one lakh indigenously developed 4G sites across the country, with the infrastructure designed to support future 5G upgrades.
Continued investment in network coverage, customer support and security will be important as BSNL seeks to compete with private telecom operators.
Summary
BSNL is preparing for indigenous 5G expansion after its 4G network began delivering the expected results, according to senior official Vivek Dua. The company is also expanding 4G coverage, upgrading its Vani chatbot for regional-language support, partnering with Saptang on network-level data filtering and introducing Bharat Sandesh for digital communication with government and private organisations. A nationwide 5G launch date has not been announced.
