Government-owned telecommunication company BSNL (Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited), has confirmed that it has no plans to increase its tariffs at the moment. Because the company is now gearing up to launch its long-awaited 4G services across the country. This was the assurance given by the company’s board of directors Sandeep Govil during a meeting held in Chennai to discuss the timeline for the commercial rollout of 4G services in the southern region, according to a report in The Hindu.
BSNL is well known for its affordable plans, and is determined to maintain affordable recharge plans for its customers even with the launch of 4G services. In this context, Govil said, “Their tariffs will be competitive. Because so far they have not accepted any plan to increase the tariff. “
To support nationwide 4G expansion, BSNL is already set to supply and commission all-India 4G technology and 1 lakh 4G Base Transceiver Station (BTS) towers. For this, the company has ordered 4G equipment from Tata Consultancy Services and ITI Limited, which is estimated to cost the state-owned telco around Rs 19,000 crore. As part of the 4G project, BSNL has chosen consortiums like TCS for software support and system integration, CDOT for core technology and Tejas for deploying the radio network.
Govil expects equipment deliveries to begin in September or October. Because, BSNL aims to launch one lakh BTS towers within a year. Note that the equipment that the company is procuring is 5G upgradeable, meaning that the company will be able to convert to 5G technology soon after launching 4G services.
As part of this telco’s 4G rollout, Tamil Nadu will witness significant upgrades. Around 8,000 BTS towers will be installed and an additional 1,500 new BTS towers will be installed, providing a robust 4G network to the region. It may be noted that the Government of India has launched a scheme to provide internet services to remote areas of the country.
According to reports, 431 villages in Tamil Nadu have been allotted under the scheme, including remote areas like Sathyamangalam Forest, Kolli Hills, Yarcaud and Jawadhumalai. The project aims to provide 4G internet services to 29,616 villages across the country by next December, with a total of 19,7222 mobile towers.
The launch of BSNL’s 4G network will fulfill the government’s desire to bring internet to remote rural areas. Besides, if the internet reaches every corner of the country, the digital divide will also disappear with the development.
