New Delhi, March 21, 2025 – Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) is gearing up for a big change. The state-owned telecom company plans to start shifting from 4G to 5G services in June 2025. This news comes from Union Telecom Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia. He shared this update recently, exciting many people who use BSNL. The shift is a part of BSNL’s efforts to catch up with private telecom giants like Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel. These companies already offer 5G in India. BSNL wants to join the race and give its customers faster internet.
The transition will begin after BSNL finishes setting up its 4G network. The company is working hard to install 100,000 4G sites across India. This work is expected to be done by May 2025. As of now, BSNL has already put up around 89,000 4G towers. This shows they are moving fast. Once this is complete, the switch to 5G will start in June. The minister said this timeline is solid, and no delays have been reported so far. BSNL’s progress looks promising, and customers are hopeful.
BSNL 4G to 5G Upgrade
This 4G-to-5G shift is not just about speed. It’s also about India making its own technology. BSNL is using a home-grown 4G system built by a team led by Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) and the Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT). India is proud of this. It joins countries like China, South Korea, Finland, and Sweden as one of the few to develop its own 4G tech. Scindia said this fits with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s dream of a self-reliant India. After June, this same system will upgrade to 5G. This could make India a leader in telecom tech worldwide.
BSNL’s move to 5G will need some changes. The company will add new hardware called Base Transceiver Stations (BTS). It will also update its software. These steps will make the switch smooth. The 4G network BSNL is building now can already support 5G with small upgrades. This means they won’t need to start from scratch. A TCS official said the 4G sites can switch to 5G with just a card replacement and software tweak. This smart planning saves time and money.
The government is backing BSNL strongly. It has given over ₹3.22 lakh crore to BSNL and Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL) since 2019. This money comes through revival packages. In February 2025, the Union Cabinet approved ₹6,000 crore more for BSNL’s 4G expansion. This funding helps BSNL set up new towers and improve services. The company aims to give better connectivity to rural areas too. With this support, BSNL hopes to grow its customer base.
Right now, BSNL has about 86.3 million users. That’s a 7.4% share of India’s mobile market. Private players like Jio and Airtel lead with much bigger shares. BSNL has lost customers in the past because its 4G rollout was slow. But things are changing. In the last quarter of 2024, BSNL made a profit of ₹262 crore. This was its first profit in 17 years. The 4G network and low prices helped. With 5G coming, BSNL might win back more users.
The 5G upgrade promises big benefits. Users can expect faster data speeds. Videos will load quicker, and downloads will take less time. It will also have lower latency. This means less delay when you click something online. Connectivity will improve too, even in tough areas like hills or indoors. BSNL says this will make their service more reliable. Customers in cities and villages alike could see a difference.
BSNL is also testing new ideas. It wants to offer 5G as a “Network-as-a-Service” (NaaS) model in some places. This means other companies can use BSNL’s 5G network for their needs. Trials for this happened in Delhi last year. If it works, BSNL could launch it by mid-2025. This could bring in extra money and make BSNL stronger.
There are some challenges ahead. BSNL is late to the 5G game. Jio and Airtel started their 5G services in 2022. They already cover many cities. BSNL needs to move fast to compete. Some experts say the quality of BSNL’s 4G gear isn’t as good as what private companies use. The government is thinking about letting foreign companies like Nokia or Ericsson join the 5G project. This could speed things up and improve quality. A final decision on this is still pending.
BSNL’s boss, Robert J. Ravi, is confident. He says the company wants to be a top telecom player globally. The 65,000 4G sites already running are doing well. With 100,000 sites soon, coverage will get better. Ravi believes 5G will stop customers from leaving. BSNL also rolled out a 4G and 5G-ready SIM platform in 2024. This lets users switch SIMs easily anywhere in India.
People on social media are talking about this. Many are excited about BSNL’s plans. Posts on X say the June 2025 timeline looks real. Users like the idea of cheaper 5G from BSNL. Some worry about delays, but most see this as a big step for India’s telecom future.
In short, BSNL’s 4G-to-5G transition in June 2025 could shake things up. It’s a chance for BSNL to grow and for India to shine in tech. With government help and local innovation, BSNL is on a new path. Will it succeed? Only time will tell. For now, June is the month to watch.
