In a landmark development, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has allocated 5G spectrum worth Rs 61000 crore to Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL). This massive support is expected to boost the telco’s ability to offer next-gen mobile services and accelerate its financial turnaround.
The spectrum allocation covers premium bands like 700 MHz and 3300 MHz, which are critical for providing high-speed 5G connectivity.
5G Launch Timeline and Initial Cities
BSNL is preparing to launch 5G services by mid-2025, starting with select cities. As per reports, Delhi is expected to be the first location to experience BSNL’s 5G rollout. The company will gradually expand to other parts of the country as infrastructure is scaled.
Infrastructure Readiness: 4G Sites Going Live
To support the 5G rollout, BSNL has already installed over 83000 4G sites, of which more than 74000 are live as of March 2025. These sites, based on indigenously developed equipment, are 5G-upgradable. This infrastructure foundation is crucial for BSNL to leap into 5G without delay.
Continued Government Support
Earlier this year, the central government approved an additional Rs 6000 crore for BSNL to address capex shortfalls, especially for 4G expansion. Since 2019, nearly Rs 3.22 lakh crore has been infused into BSNL and MTNL through various revival packages, underlining the government’s commitment to strengthen the public telecom sector.
Tejas Networks: Backbone of BSNL’s Network
Tejas Networks, a Tata Group company, is playing a pivotal role in BSNL’s network upgrade. In Q3 FY25 alone, it delivered equipment for 27000 sites, taking its total contribution to over 86000 deployments. The synergy between BSNL and Tejas is central to the rollout of a secure, indigenous 5G network.
Looking Ahead
With this latest 5G spectrum allocation, BSNL is better positioned than ever to enter the competitive 5G space. If executed efficiently, the move could reshape India’s telecom ecosystem and offer citizens an alternative 5G provider backed by robust public sector infrastructure.
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