New Delhi: In a strong push to accelerate the turnaround of state-run telecom giant Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), Minister of State for Telecom Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani on Friday directed four major BSNL circles—Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, and West Bengal—to improve service quality, fix tower power issues, and adopt aggressive sales strategies to strengthen the company’s presence.
This directive came during a review meeting of all BSNL circle and business unit heads, as the government sharpens its focus on reviving BSNL’s operations amid increasing competition and dwindling user base.
Key Areas of Focus: Service, Sales, and Infrastructure
Pemmasani, taking to social media platform X, emphasized the need for:
- Improved Quality of Service (QoS)
- Timely resolution of tower power issues
- Rapid fibre cut repairs
- Adoption of locally-tailored and innovative marketing strategies
“Reviewed @BSNLCorporate performance of UP, Bihar, MP & West Bengal circles today. Emphasised improving quality of service, resolving tower power issues, timely rectification of fibre cuts, and adopting innovative, locally-suited sales & marketing strategies to strengthen BSNL’s footprint,” Pemmasani posted.
Aggressive Growth Targets Set for Enterprise and Fixed Line Business
The minister also outlined ambitious growth targets for BSNL units:
- Enterprise business is expected to grow by 25–30%
- Fixed line business should grow by at least 15–20%
These directives are in line with the government’s broader vision to revamp the telecom PSU’s operations and financial health.
Recent Performance and Financial Revival
BSNL has shown signs of revival in recent quarters after years of financial stress:
The company posted a net profit of ₹280 crore in the March quarter of FY25, a significant turnaround from a loss of ₹849 crore in the same quarter last year.
It also recorded a profit after tax of ₹262 crore in the October–December quarter of the previous fiscal—marking two consecutive quarters of profitability after 18 years of losses.
These results come after the Government injected over ₹3 lakh crore over the past six years as part of its ongoing efforts to revive BSNL’s competitiveness in the telecom sector.
Customer Base Decline Remains a Concern
Despite financial improvement, BSNL continues to lose subscribers, mainly due to persistent service quality issues—a challenge the telecom ministry is now addressing with greater urgency.
Last month, Union Telecom Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia had already directed BSNL to grow its mobile customer base by 50% within a year, reinforcing the importance of customer acquisition and retention in BSNL’s growth plan.
Outlook: Government Committed to BSNL’s Long-Term Revival
With direct intervention from both the Union Telecom Minister and the Minister of State, the government has sent a clear message about its commitment to BSNL’s transformation. The focus on operational efficiency, infrastructure maintenance, and strategic marketing is expected to pave the way for sustainable growth and customer trust.
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About BSNL
Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) is a public sector telecom company under the Ministry of Communications. Known for its pan-India telecom footprint, BSNL is playing a crucial role in providing secure, indigenous, and future-ready connectivity infrastructure across sectors.
