New Delhi: In a major boost to India’s telecom sector, BSNL (Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited) is rolling out one lakh indigenously developed 4G sites for pan-India deployment. This move comes as part of the government’s efforts to strengthen BSNL, making it more robust, competitive, and financially viable.
Minister of State for Communications and Rural Development, Dr. Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar, announced in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha that the government has approved three revival packages for BSNL, amounting to approximately ₹3.22 lakh crores. These packages include capital infusion, debt restructuring, viability gap funding for rural telephony, and spectrum allocation for 4G/5G services.
Government Support and Spectrum Allocation
The government has administratively assigned BSNL spectrum in multiple frequency bands—700 MHz, 800 MHz, 1800 MHz, 2100 MHz, 2500 MHz, and 3300 MHz—at auction-determined prices to provide 4G and 5G services.
As a result of these revival packages, BSNL has earned operating profits since FY 2020-21, marking a significant turnaround for the state-owned telecom operator.
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BSNL Network Expansion Progress
Since 2014, BSNL has expanded its network significantly:
• 2G BTS: 13,748 sites
• 3G BTS (NodeB): 39,722 sites
• 4G BTS (eNodeB): 1,03,305 sites
As of 28 February 2026, 97,906 4G sites have been installed, with 96,103 4G sites currently ON-Air, signaling a rapid scale-up of modern telecom infrastructure.
Pan-India 4G Deployment Initiative
To further strengthen telecom services across India, BSNL is rolling out 1 lakh indigenously developed 4G sites for nationwide deployment. These sites aim to enhance coverage, network reliability, and internet speed for users in urban, rural, and remote areas.
BharatNet Program and Rural Connectivity
The Amended BharatNet program, approved by the Union Cabinet on 4 August 2023 with an outlay of ₹1.39 lakh crores, will extend fiber connectivity to all Gram Panchayats and villages on a demand basis. It also includes provisions for 1.5 crore high-speed FTTH broadband connections in rural areas, with BSNL acting as the Project Management Agency for the scheme.
Special Initiatives for Border and Remote Areas
To expand network coverage in border and remote areas, the government is implementing schemes such as:
• 4G Saturation Scheme
• Border Out Post (BOP) / Border Intelligence Post (BIP)
More details about these schemes are available on USOF.
About BSNL
Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) is India’s state-owned telecommunications provider, operating across landline, mobile, and broadband services. With a strong presence in strategic and remote locations, BSNL has played a crucial role in enabling digital connectivity for defence, government, and public infrastructure projects nationwide. The collaboration with Viasat underscores BSNL’s commitment to supporting India’s defence modernization and secure communications infrastructure.
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