According to the minister of state for communications and minister of state for rural development, state-run Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) is set to roll out an additional 23,000 fourth-generation (4G) sites in the near term and subsequently upgrade its network to next-generation (5G) technology, including the use of a revenue-sharing model to narrow the gap with private telecom operators.
The minister said that once BSNL achieves adequate 4G coverage, the operator will begin upgrading these sites to 5G. The public sector telco, in partnership with a consortium led by Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), has already deployed 4G sites across four operational zones, with built-in capability to switch to 5G technology.
He further added that the central government remains fully committed to BSNL’s revival and wants the operator to not only survive but also steadily improve its performance.