BSNL will use local 4G stack to roll out 4G in India. Skipper said that this project will be financed by the Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF), which is a strong cash reserve of Rs 55,000 crore aimed at offering mobile connectivity services in rural and remote areas.
Highlights
- Skipper won a BSNL draft.
- BSNL will start rolling out 4G soon.
- BSNL will use local technology for the 4G implementation.
Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) has awarded Skipper with a project worth Rs 2,570 crore. Skipper is one of the leading manufacturers of transmission and distribution structures along with the manufacturer of railway and telecommunication structures. Skipper will help BSNL roll out local 4G networks. The order awarded by BSNL concerns the supply and erection of land-based telecommunication towers, Infrastructure as a Service Provider (IaaSP) for the supply, installation of infrastructural elements and subsequent operation and maintenance for 5 years. Skipper said the project can be extended for another 5 years in India's uncovered villages under 4G saturation projects.
Skipper said that the total contract value is around Rs 2,570 crore which will be executed on capex and opex model for 5 years. The works will be carried out in the states of Rajasthan and Orissa. For Rajasthan, the project is worth around Rs 1350 crore and Orissa 1220 crore. The total number of tower sites included in this project is 3,350.
These tower sites are being configured for 4G as part of 4G saturation projects in parts of India that are not yet covered by any type of mobile communications network or have only 2G or 3G networks.
BSNL will use local 4G stack to roll out 4G in India. Skipper said that this project will be financed by the Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF), which is a strong cash reserve of Rs 55,000 crore aimed at offering mobile connectivity services in rural and remote areas.
BSNL is expected to roll out 4G for consumers in India from January 2023. The state-owned telecom operator will be able to add new subscribers if it can roll out 4G soon. Also, in the next year, the telecom company is expected to roll out 5G. According to Union Telecommunications Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, BSNL may roll out 5G within 7 months of 4G rollout.