BSNL's Financial Recovery and 5G Ambitions

Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia announced on Friday that state-owned BSNL is on track for financial recovery and plans to launch 5G services by the middle of next year. The minister made these remarks at the India Economic Conclave of Times Network.

Scindia emphasized the government's commitment to reviving India Post, focusing on logistics, e-commerce, parcel, and mail businesses, alongside additional services like insurance and citizen-centric offerings such as passport delivery. On BSNL, he highlighted the company's progress towards sustainable operations, noting a 12% revenue growth over the past few years and an operating profit that has more than doubled since 2021.

BSNL aims to install 100,000 towers by mid-2024, built on indigenous technology. This initiative, supported by state-owned C-DOT and Tata's Tejas, positions India as only the fifth country with its own 4G hardware and technology stack. With the completion of these towers, BSNL will transition some to 5G, solidifying its recovery and technological advancement.