BSNL Commences Trail of 5G Network, Planning to Launch Next Year

Government telecom company Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) has started testing 5G network. BSNL aims to launch one lakh 4G sites by the end of the current financial year. 5G network of big private telecom companies like Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel is present in a large part of the country.

The central government plans to bring BSNL into profit soon. BSNL’s 5G network is being tested in collaboration with the Center for Development of Telecommunications (C-DoT). C-DoT has provided the network core for 4G. This core can also be used for 5G. Some upgrades will be required for this. After Reliance Jio, BSNL will be the second company to use indigenous network for its 5G network.

Recently, BSNL launched ‘BSNL Live TV’ application for TV. This app is initially available for Android TVs. It can be downloaded from Google Play Store. However, its features are not known. This app has been published by WeConnect. This app offers Internet, Cable TV and landline telephone services through a single CPE. It is operated through an Android based system. In February this year, BSNL introduced Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) service through fiber. Its rate has been kept quite low. Its starting rate is Rs 130 per month. This service can work without a set-top box in Android TVs. It competes with similar services of Bharti Airtel and Reliance Jio.

BSNL may soon get additional funds of Rs 6,000 crore from the central government for 4G network. BSNL and MTNL, which provides telecom services in Delhi and Mumbai, have received funds of about Rs 3.22 lakh crore from the government since 2019. The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has planned to give this fund to BSNL due to the reduction in capital expenditure in purchasing equipment for 4G. This proposal will soon be presented for approval of the Union Cabinet. The order to purchase equipment for the company’s 4G network has been given to Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) and government telecom equipment maker ITI.