New Delhi: Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) is set to begin its 5G rollout in Delhi and other major Indian cities by the end of September 2025, marking a delayed but significant step in India’s telecom sector.
Pilot Phase Completed Across Multiple Cities
The rollout follows a series of 5G technology trials conducted in state capitals such as Jaipur, Kolkata, Lucknow, Bhopal, Patna, Hyderabad, and Chennai. These pilot deployments were aimed at testing network readiness and validating 5G equipment performance over BSNL’s upgraded 4G infrastructure.
BSNL has reportedly installed over 93,000 4G towers across the country as of June 2025, with a target to cross 1 lakh installations in the coming months. These 4G sites are being upgraded to support 5G services through software and hardware enhancements.
Focus on Urban and Underserved Areas
While the rollout will initially focus on metro cities, BSNL officials indicated that the public sector operator is also looking at tier-2 and tier-3 cities as part of its broader expansion plan. The move is in line with the government’s Digital India goals, particularly the aim to improve connectivity in underserved and rural areas.
BSNL’s entry into 5G comes years after private players like Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel launched their own networks. The delay has been attributed to spectrum allocation timelines, vendor negotiations, and infrastructure readiness.
Government-Driven Strategy
The Centre is backing BSNL’s 5G deployment under its Atmanirbhar Bharat and Digital India initiatives, with a focus on using indigenous technology. The rollout strategy also includes affordability measures to ensure that 5G access is not limited to high-income urban users.
The public sector telecom company’s delayed entry raises questions about competitiveness, but analysts suggest that BSNL’s emphasis on rural and government-backed connectivity could help it carve out a distinct role.
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