Ankur Nikam
BSNL was established in 2000, building on a telecom legacy that began in colonial India. For years, it was the backbone of urban and rural telecommunication.
Despite its early success, BSNL faced slow growth from 2006–2012 as private telcos surged ahead. Missed spectrum auctions and delayed mobile launches led to declining market share.
BSNL was left behind during the 5G race, but focused on an all-Indian 4G solution with homegrown hardware and software. Tata Consultancy Services and Tejas Networks played key roles in making this a reality.
Today, PM Modi launched BSNL’s 4G network across 98,000 sites, an all-India rollout powered by indigenous technology.
This transformation brings high-speed internet to remote villages and urban centres alike, supporting Digital India ambitions.
BSNL aims to launch 5G in Delhi and Mumbai by the end of 2025, with a 6G roadmap for 2030.
Though BSNL still faces stiff private sector competition and a declining market share (below 8%), recent profits and 4G expansion signal hope.
BSNL is the face of indigenous innovation and public sector resilience in India’s telecom story.
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