Hyderabad: Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), the state-run telecom operator, has officially entered the 5G Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) segment, debuting its high-speed home broadband service in Hyderabad.
The service, launched on June 18, represents India’s first fully indigenous and SIM-less 5G FWA solution, developed specifically for BSNL.
In a statement, BSNL Chairman and Managing Director A. Robert J Ravi called the rollout a milestone achievement in indigenous telecom innovation. “Quantum 5G FWA demonstrates how Indian engineers can create world-class connectivity. It is the first SIM-less, 100 per cent homegrown customised 5G FWA for BSNL. Today is only a soft launch – many more cities and feature upgrades will follow,” Ravi said.
Expansion Plan and Pricing
Following this initial rollout in Hyderabad, BSNL plans to expand the pilot project to Bengaluru, Pondicherry, Visakhapatnam, Pune, Gwalior, and Chandigarh by September 2025, the company confirmed.
BSNL’s introductory pricing for the service includes-
- ₹999 for a 100 Mbps plan
- ₹1,499 for a 300 Mbps plan
The 5G FWA technology allows high-speed internet access without requiring optical fibre infrastructure. Operators deploy a modem at the subscriber’s premises, which wirelessly receives signals from the nearest 5G base station – enabling rapid deployment and connectivity, especially in areas where laying fibre is challenging.
A Strategic Move Against Private Giants
Currently, Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel are the only other telecom players offering 5G FWA services in India, leveraging their own 5G spectrum. BSNL’s entry into the space marks a significant strategic move as it prepares for larger commercial 5G rollouts, including those under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative and in collaboration with local technology providers.
With its SIM-less and fully indigenous approach, BSNL is positioning itself as a public-sector-driven alternative in the rapidly evolving digital connectivity ecosystem.
