From Our Bureau
NEW DELHI: In a significant move as the third revival package, the Union Cabinet on Wednesday allotted the 4G and 5G spectrums to the BSNL through equity infusion, increasing the authorised capital to it from Rs 1,50,000 crore to Rs 2,10,000 in the third revival package to push the government-owned telecom to be a stable serevice provider focused on providing connectivity to the remotest parts of India.
The Cabinet approved the budgetary support of Rs 89,047.82 crore to BSNL.
India also claimed to be proud of the indigenous 4G/5G technology.
Telecom technology is a strategic technology with a limited number of end-to-end technology providers in the world.
Under the Atmanirbhar vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India’s own 4G/5G technology stack has been successfully developed. Deployment has started. After a few months of field deployment, it will be rapidly rolled out across the country on BSNL network.
The Government had approved the first revival package for BSNL/MTNL in 2019. It amounted to Rs. 69,000 Crore and brought stability in BSNL/MTNL.
In 2022, it approved second revival package for BSNL/MTNL amounting to Rs. 1.64 Lakh Crore. It provided financial support for capex, viability gap funding for rural landlines, financial support for de-stressing the balance sheet, and settlement of AGR dues, merger of BBNL with BSNL, etc.
As a result of these two packages, BSNL has started earning operating profits since FY 2021-22. Total debt of BSNL has reduced from Rs. 32,944 Crore to Rs. 22,289 Crore.
With the new spectrum allotment, the BSNL will be able to provide:
a. Pan India 4G and 5G services;
b. 4G coverage in the rural and uncovered villages under various connectivity projects;
c. Fixed wireless access services in high-speed internet; and
d. services/spectrum for Captive Non-Public Network (CNPN).
The BSNL is also to take over the services provided by MTNL in the cities of Mumbai and Delhi.
It has achieved strong growth in home fiber segment. It is providing more than 1 Lakh new connections every month. Total home fiber subscriber base of BSNL in May 2023 is 30.88 Lakh. Total revenue from home fiber last year was Rs. 2,071 Crore.
The revenue of BSNL went up from Rs 18,595 crore in the financial year 2020-23 to Rs 19,053 crore in financial year 2021-22 and Rs 20,699 crore. Its operating profits in the three years went up from Rs 1177 crore to Rs 944 crore and Rs 1559 crore.
