• Sahanara Sultana
• 12 Oct, 2025

§  BSNL 5G Launch

§  Pilot Testing & Infrastructure

§  Subscriber Growth & Market Impact

BSNL 5G Launch: BSNL customers have major reasons to celebrate as the state-owned telecom giant moves closer to its 5G launch by December 2025. The company has successfully completed its 5G pilot project and begun trials in several cities across India. With over 100,000 indigenous 4G towers already deployed and fully 5G-ready for immediate upgrade, BSNL is positioned to compete directly with private operators like Jio and Airtel. The announcement comes as BSNL registered impressive subscriber growth in August 2025, adding 1.385 million new customers and outpacing Bharti Airtel for the first time in nearly a year.

Details & Context

BSNL Principal General Manager Vivek Dua confirmed that the telecom operator has completed its 5G pilot project successfully. The company’s entire 4G network infrastructure is built to be 5G-ready and can be immediately upgraded once trials conclude. “We already have done the testing for the 5G. Our network, which is 4G right now, is upgradable and the trials already are in the field. So very soon we’ll be rolling out our 5G stuff also,” Dua stated.

The groundwork for this rapid transition was established when Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched approximately 100,000 indigenous 4G towers on September 27, 2025. This network is entirely based on homegrown technology developed through collaboration between TCS (Tata Consultancy Services) and Tejas Networks, marking a significant milestone for India's self-reliance in telecommunications infrastructure.

Union Telecom Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia has indicated that all BSNL 4G towers will be upgraded to 5G within six to eight months. He emphasized that India has now joined the exclusive club of countries with indigenous 4G technology, previously dominated by companies from Sweden, Finland, South Korea and China.

BSNL’s Subscriber Surge and Market Performance

BSNL demonstrated remarkable market recovery in August 2025, registering its strongest subscriber growth in over a year. The state-owned operator added 1.385 million new mobile customers, significantly outperforming Bharti Airtel’s addition of just 496,000 customers. This marked the first time in nearly 12 months that BSNL surpassed Airtel in new customer acquisitions.

The subscriber growth was primarily driven by BSNL’s strong performance in rural markets, where approximately 1 million new customers were added following losses in previous months. Reliance Jio continued to lead overall additions with 1.9 million new subscribers, while Vodafone Idea faced continued decline, losing 309,000 customers during the same period.

This resurgence coincides with BSNL’s nationwide 4G rollout and focused expansion into underserved rural areas. The company has deployed approximately 95,000-97,500 4G towers across the country as part of its comprehensive network expansion strategy.

Infrastructure Expansion and Investment

The Department of Telecommunications has announced plans to seek Cabinet approval for deploying an additional 100,000 4G towers beyond the current 100,000 already installed. Minister of State for Communications Pemmasani Chandrasekhar confirmed that the government will approach Prime Minister Modi to approve this second phase of expansion.

The government has committed substantial financial resources with a ₹47,000 crore capital expenditure plan in place for BSNL’s continued network expansion. This follows the highest-ever capex of ₹25,000 crore spent in the previous year for installing the initial 100,000 towers.

Affordable Plans and Customer Benefits

BSNL continues to offer competitive pricing with its popular ₹319 prepaid plan, which provides unlimited calling, 10GB total data and 300 SMS with 65-day validity. This plan offers significantly better value compared to private operators, especially considering the extended validity period.

The company is currently offering promotional discounts on select prepaid plans including up to ₹38 savings on the ₹1,999 plan and smaller discounts on ₹199 and ₹485 plans. These limited-time offers run until October 15, 2025, providing immediate cost savings for customers.

Quotes

·       “We already have done the testing for the 5G. Our network, which is 4G right now is upgradable and the trials already are in the field. So very soon we'll be rolling out our 5G stuff also” - Vivek Dua, Principal General Manager, BSNL

·       “All BSNL 4G towers will be upgraded to 5G in the next six to eight months. This will enable an end-to-end 5G network in India” - Union Telecom Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia

·       “After successfully installing 100,000 towers with optimal 4G equipment, we will approach the Cabinet and Prime Minister Narendra Modi to approve another 100,000 towers” - Pemmasani Chandrasekhar, Minister of State for Communications

Additional Information

BSNL’s 5G network will be branded as “Q5G” where Q represents “Quantum,” highlighting the advanced technology being deployed. The company has also implemented enhanced security features to protect users from fraud and spam, positioning itself as a comprehensive solution provider.

The indigenous technology approach has created some initial challenges but offers long-term strategic advantages. Equipment performance has steadily improved with officials expecting near-perfect operation by mid-2026. This domestic technology stack reduces dependency on foreign suppliers and supports India’s self-reliance objectives.

Social media engagement around BSNL has significantly increased with hashtags like #BSNLGharWapsi (BSNL Homecoming) and #BSNL5G trending across platforms. The renewed interest reflects growing consumer confidence in the state-owned operator's transformation.

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Impact Analysis

·       Market Competition Intensification: BSNL’s 5G launch will create a four-way competition in India’s 5G market, potentially driving down prices and improving service quality across all operators. The state-owned company’s competitive pricing strategy could force private operators to reconsider their premium positioning.

·       Rural Connectivity Enhancement: With focus on rural market expansion and indigenous technology, BSNL’s 5G rollout could significantly improve connectivity in underserved areas where private operators have limited presence. The additional 100,000 planned towers will strengthen coverage in remote regions.

·       Technology Self-Reliance: India’s achievement in developing indigenous 4G/5G technology reduces strategic dependence on foreign suppliers and creates opportunities for technology export. This positions India as a significant player in global telecommunications equipment manufacturing.

·       Consumer Cost Benefits: BSNL’s traditionally lower pricing, combined with expanded 5G services, could provide substantial cost savings for consumers. The promotional discounts and competitive plan structures offer attractive alternatives to private operator premium pricing.

Conclusion

BSNL’s imminent 5G launch represents a pivotal moment for India’s telecommunications landscape. With pilot testing complete, indigenous infrastructure ready for upgrade and strong subscriber growth momentum, the state-owned operator is well-positioned to challenge private sector dominance. The combination of affordable pricing, extensive rural coverage and homegrown technology creates a compelling value proposition for consumers seeking quality 5G services without premium costs. As trials conclude and commercial launch approaches by December 2025, BSNL customers can anticipate access to indigenous 5G technology that supports both connectivity needs and national self-reliance objectives.

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