State-owned telecom company BSNL will start rolling out its 4G network from November and gradually upgrade it to 5G by August next year, a top company official said on Monday.
BSNL Chairman and Managing Director PK Purwar told PTI at the India Mobile Congress that the company plans to roll out nearly 1.25 lakh 4G mobile sites in 18 months.
“The first roll out (of the planned 4G network) should happen in November,” Purwar said.
The company is in talks with IT major TCS and government telecom research and development body C-DOT-led consortium to deploy indigenously developed 4G technology in the network.
Purwar said the 4G network gears the company buys can be upgraded to 5G through a software update.
Asked about the timeline of BSNL’s plans to launch 5G services, Purwar said the company is on track to deploy 5G as per the August 15, 2023 deadline set by Telecom Minister Ashwini Vaishnav.
“The minister has given us a clear path that the date 15 August 2023 should be in the BSNL 5G domain. We are working towards the direction we got. We should be able to meet that (target) timeline,” Purwar said.
Talking about revenue dynamics, all telecom operators should focus on digital inclusion and connect the unconnected with digital technology.
“In order for everyone to get good service there should be investment in the network and the roll out should be fast. Unless the operators have enough resources, they will not be able to invest in the network. Unless there is investment in network technology, people will be excluded from taking advantage of many new technologies,” Purwar said. .
He also said that India has the lowest Average Revenue Per User (ARPU) and it needs to be seen if it is sustainable.
“Telecom operators are apt to get revenue from other sources but we also have to see that India has the lowest ARPU in the world. Can we sustain this level of ARPU and get new investments? We need to strike a balance. These things out,” Purwar said. mentioned.
