Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) is currently battling for coming out with 4G networks. At such a time, it has been said that the state-run telco’s 5G non-standalone (NSA) networks could come as early as the end of 2022. Further, by 2023, BSNL could come out with 5G standalone (SA) networks as well. If you are thinking that BSNL is directly going for 5G and skipping 4G, well, that’s not happening. The telco’s major focus still is to come out with the 4G networks around India as soon as possible and then later upgrade it to 5G. Now the Indian companies that are likely to be part of BSNL’s 4G network drive are almost confirmed.
BSNL 4G Networks Likely to be Deployed By These Companies
In July 2021, BSNL gave a letter of intent to five select bidders that would be using Indian core technology for helping the telco deploy 4G networks and possibly 5G in the future. But now, as per an ET Telecom report, multiple companies have backed out of the process after having failures with the integration of partners supplying core network technology. The state-run telco will further cancel their security deposit of Rs 5 crore that each of them provided. The only companies that are now left in the mix include the Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DoT), Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), and Tejas Networks. So it is most likely that these companies are going to deploy India’s first indigenous 4G network for BSNL. Rajkumar Upadhyay, Executive Director and Board Chairman, C-DoT, said that the 4G network deployment would help the company (BSNL) in upgrading to 5G fast. Upadhyay said that India could see BSNL’s first 5G NSA network as early as late 2022 and 5G SA network by 2023. If this is true, it is great news for BSNL fans because that would mean the telco won’t be as late with 5G as it is with 4G.
