BSNL’s 5G journey: First test in Delhi, then nationwide rollout

BSNL’s top official has confirmed that the telco will launch 5G Network-as-a-Service (5G NaaS) only when its successful implementation is done in the Delhi circle and the 4G network becomes fully stable.

Telecom Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia had said last month that BSNL’s 4G network, which will be 5G-upgradable, will be fully deployed by May 2025.

BSNL’s 5G Expansion Plan

BSNL will launch 5G NaaS on 1,876 sites, which also includes Tejas Networks.

TCS and Tejas will handle network integration and implementation together.

It will run on a revenue-sharing model, where the successful bidder will own the network infrastructure for its lifecycle.

According to BSNL chairman Robert J Ravi, the plan is to cover the entire country with one lakh sites.

Role of TCS and Tejas

The TCS-led consortium (which also includes C-DoT and Tejas Networks) is setting up a pan-India 4G network for BSNL.

TCS’s radio equipment can be directly 5G-ready through software upgrades.

C-DoT’s core system already supports 5G Non-Standalone (NSA).

Which spectrum bands does BSNL have?

Currently, BSNL has 700 MHz, 900 MHz, 2,100 MHz, 2,500 MHz, and 3,500 MHz frequency bands. When the telco selects specific sites and bands, TCS will implement the 5G upgrade.

BSNL’s 5G journey is now taking one step forward and together with TCS, the telco is focusing on increasing its coverage and capacity across the country.