Once seen as a struggling public sector telecom company fighting for survival, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited is now emerging as one of the strongest symbols of India’s digital transformation story.
In an interview with DD India, Union Minister of State for Communications Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani outlined how BSNL has undergone a dramatic revival over the past two years through financial discipline, infrastructure upgrades and an aggressive indigenous 4G rollout.
REVENUE AND PROFITS SEE SHARP JUMP
According to the minister, BSNL’s revenue has grown from ₹21,000 crore to ₹25,000 crore in just two years — a rise of nearly 25 percent.
Even more striking has been the jump in EBITDA, which surged from just ₹50 crore to nearly ₹7,000 crore, signalling improved efficiency and a clearer path towards profitability.
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Dr Pemmasani said the turnaround was achieved through systematic reforms, including improving tower uptime, replacing ageing batteries and upgrading power systems and cables across the country.
INDIA-MADE 4G EMERGES AS KEY MILESTONE
One of BSNL’s biggest achievements has been the rollout of indigenous 4G technology on 100,000 towers within a year.
The minister said India has now become only the fifth country in the world capable of developing deep indigenous 4G telecom technology at near-global standards.
BSNL is also attempting to rebuild consumer trust through affordable tariffs and ₹1 SIM cards distributed via India Post offices, especially in rural India.
CONNECTIVITY DRIVES SECURITY AND DEVELOPMENT
The telecom revival is also playing a crucial role in remote and conflict-hit regions. Around 25,000 towers have already been installed in nearly 35,000 previously unconnected villages, with another 10,000 towers under development.
Dr Pemmasani noted that connectivity in areas like Narayanpur in Chhattisgarh has helped citizens contact authorities quickly, aiding efforts against left-wing extremism.
Alongside BSNL’s expansion, the government is investing ₹1.4 lakh crore under the BharatNet initiative to bring high-speed fibre connectivity to every Gram Panchayat.
Calling communication infrastructure central to the vision of “Viksit Bharat 2047,” the minister summed up BSNL’s future in three words: “Trustworthy, proud and profitable.”
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