Asking question to Telecom Minister India Will BSNL launch 5G - BSNL has already applied to Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) to offer 5G test equipment so that it can continue with 5G testing. Like 4G, Tata-owned Tejas Networks is expected to supply 5G equipment for BSNL's 5G.
Highlights
- Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) will upgrade about 1.35 lakh towers from 4G to 5G within five to seven months, Telecom Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said.
- The telecom operator hasn't had much success in rolling out widespread 4G networks, even after several years in India.
- The minister also said that BSNL will play a crucial role in enabling connectivity in rural areas, which are not yet fully covered by other telecom players.
Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) will upgrade about 1.35 lakh towers from 4G to 5G within five to seven months, Telecom Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said. The telecom operator hasn't had much success in rolling out widespread 4G networks, even after several years in India. The minister also said that BSNL will play a crucial role in enabling connectivity in rural areas, which are not yet fully covered by other telecom players.
According to a PTI report, Vaishnaw was questioned by Kotak Bank CEO Uday Kotak about BSNL's role in Indian telecom industry, to which the minister said that BSNL's 4G will be upgraded to 5G in about five to seven months and will be implemented at 1.35 lakh. telecommunication towers in the country. The Telematics Development Center (C-DoT) is likely to provide BSNL with the 5G core, which will enable the company to roll out 5G services in India. The indigenous 5G C-DoT core has already been demonstrated at the India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2022 which was held recently.
BSNL has already applied to Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) to offer 5G test equipment so that it can continue with 5G testing. Like 4G, Tata-owned Tejas Networks is expected to supply 5G equipment for BSNL's 5G.
The telecommunication technology development fund will be promoted
Vaishnaw said that there is a Rs 500 crore telecom technology development fund. The government will slowly try to upgrade it from Rs 3,000 to Rs 4,000 crore annually. According to Vaishnaw, the technology fund would be available to the entire sector.
In related developments, BSNL has called on the government to nearly double the spectrum reserved for 5G. BSNL also called on the government to include spectrum in the 700 MHz band for 5G, which currently only Reliance Jio has in India. It is noted that for BSNL to rollout 5G the government has already reserved airwaves in the 600 MHz band.